Veteran film director and Chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, Ranjith created a small uproar just days back after criticizing actor Mohanlal’s Thrissur dialect in the evergreen fan favourite ‘Thoovanathumbikal’. The director was speaking to the New Indian Express when he outrightly bashed Mohanlal’s dialect in the movie and termed it as a ‘bore’.

“Lal’s slang in the movie is very boring. Even director Padmarajan never cared to put in special efforts to make it perfect. What he is speaking is not anywhere near to Thrissur slang. It is just a comic version”

The statement from Ranjith ran viral across the internet space with some critics supporting it while many others thought it was condescending from the director. Even trolls demeaning actor Mohanlal appeared on the internet giving space to a more fervent reaction from the actor’s core fan base.

However now, Anantha Padmanabhan, son of late director Padmarajan came up with a response to Ranjith’s critical diatribe on the movie.

“Ranjith has got all right to say what he thinks. It may be true that the slang was not pitch-perfect and might have had some variations. In ‘Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil’ (Padmarajan’s 1986 movie), Valluvanad slang was used and people in the south had difficulty in comprehending the dialogues. It was to avoid such a debacle that my father gave a popular appeal to the Thrissur slang used in ‘Thoovanathumbikal’.

The Padmarajan Award for Best Film in 2012 went for Ranjith’s ‘Indian Rupee’. During the ceremony, Ranjith said: For every new age filmmaker, it is a pilgrimage to reach the Himalayas that is Padmarajan; to discover it and to learn the intricacies.

This statement from Ranjith is etched in my mind and I know where he has placed my father. There is respect. No need for any controversies. “ Anantha Padmanabhan said.