In the latest controversy from Mollywood, an unwarranted and prejudiced remark from an award-winning Malayalam filmmaker saw him getting a fitting response from actor Bineesh Bastin.
On Thursday evening, Bineesh, in a unique protest, squatted on the floor of the dais where filmmaker Anil Radhakrishna Menon was addressing the students at the Union Day event of the Government Medical College, Palakkad.
Both Bineesh and Anil had been invited as guests for the college day event and magazine inauguration. While Bineesh was invited as the chief guest for the event, Anil Menon - who has directed films such as 24 North Kaatham and Sapthamasri Thaskaraha - was called to inaugurate the college magazine.
"I was invited two days ago by the college chairperson. I told them that I would be present for the event and requested for a hotel room so I could freshen up and change as I was coming from Idukki. Half an hour after I checked into the hotel, the chairperson and a few students knocked on the door and informed me that the other guest - Anil Radhakrishnan Menon - did not wish to share the dais with me. When asked why, they said that the filmmaker said I was a 'third grade actor who asked for chances in his films.' The authorities then asked me to come an hour later, after Anil had finished addressing the audience as they wanted the event to go smoothly. I was very saddened by this," Bineesh told local media after the incident.
Deciding to protest against this treatment, Bineesh arrived at the college at 3 pm, when the event was scheduled to take place.
A viral video of the incident shows the college authorities trying to stop Bineesh from going to the dais and even threatening to call the police. However, the actor manages to get on the dais and sits on the floor, even as Anil is seen addressing the audience.
After a few minutes, Bineesh addresses the audience and clarifies what had happened prior to the event.
"This is possibly the saddest day of my life. This is not the first time that I am visiting a college as a guest. I have visited 200 odd college before this, but this is the first time that such an incident is happening to me," he added.
The actor also recited a few verses which ended with the line, 'I too am a human being', while addressing the students, which has gone on to make waves on social media.
"I do not have Menon as a surname, I have not won any national awards. I am a common man and I come from the masses. That is why I sat on the floor in protest because that is where I come from. And the director said he cannot share the stage with such a person. But we are all human beings here. I am so upset by this incident that I haven't slept all day," he told Manorama news in an interview.
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Bineesh Bastin on the left and Anil Menon on the right
Bineesh also added that the principal of the college even threatened to call the police if Bineesh decided to get on the dais.
"Now the principal says that they had never invited me as a Chief Guest. I don't know what he is saying. There is proof that I was invited. The college had put up photos of me and Anil on their posters and website ahead of the event. If I was not called, why would I drive down to Palakkad all the way from Idukki?" he asks.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Anil Radhakrishna Menon apologised to Bineesh following the controversy. However, in a bizarre statement to Mathrubhumi news, the director said that he did not wish to share the stage and limelight with anyone.
"The college authorities invited me only a day before the event. Since it was on short notice, I asked them who all were invited. They said nobody other than me was called as chief guest. The next day, they told me that Bineesh too had been invited as a guest. I then told them to remove me if they had another guest. I do not take money to attend all these events and hence, I do not wish to share the limelight with anybody else," the filmmaker told Mathrubhumi news.
Bineesh Bastin is a popular actor who has acted in Tamil and Malayalam films. He first rose to fame after acting in the 2016 Vijay-Samantha starrer Theri.