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The KR Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts (KRNNIVSA) has released a pointed video on its official Instagram account, responding to acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s recent controversial remarks about the institute’s current state and past protests.
The video directly counters statements made by Adoor in an interview with Asianet News, where he reiterated his longstanding support for former institute director Shankar Mohan and criticised the student protests that led to Mohan’s resignation. The interview followed his brief but controversial comments at a film conclave in Thiruvananthapuram on August 3, where he called the KRNNIVSA strike “unnecessary” and praised Mohan as a “great man” who, according to him, raised the institute’s standards.
The Instagram video begins by playing a clip from the Asianet News interview in which Adoor said, “Now there are no department heads except for editing and acting. There is no idea what kind of education happens there.” The reel then proceeds to disprove that claim by featuring a series of current Heads of Departments introducing themselves and highlighting their active roles at the institute.
Among those appearing in the video are Vinod Sukumaran (Dean and noted film editor), Rakha Datta (HoD, Direction), Shan Muhammed (HoD, Editing), Pramod Thomas (HoD, Sound Recording), Savitha Singh (HoD, Cinematography), and others from the departments of Animation and Acting. Visuals also show classes being conducted by industry experts, reinforcing the institution’s academic continuity and operational strength.
In the Asianet interview, Adoor elaborated on the protest that rocked the institute in December 2022. “KRNNIVSA had nothing when me as chairman and Shankar Mohan as director took charge. There was not even a preview theater. There were no cameras or tools. We established everything. There was no reason for students’ complaints,” he said.
He claimed that Mohan was unfairly targeted: “There were people working along with Shankar Mohan—one such person’s daughter was brought up at Shankar Mohan’s house. And all these allegations were against such a person.”
Adoor alleged that the protest was not about caste discrimination but was triggered by efforts to impose discipline. “A security guard who is an ex-military officer distributed alcohol to the students. Shankar Mohan raided and found 17 loads of alcohol bottles. Then he tried to bring discipline, so this protest was an after-effect of trying to bring discipline.”
He went on to lament the fallout: “He resigned, I resigned, and following that, 16 department heads also resigned. Now there are no department heads except for editing and acting.”
The student protest at KRNNIVSA began on December 5, 2022, after sanitation workers accused Shankar Mohan of caste-based discrimination, including being forced to clean toilets in his official residence with bare hands. Students joined the protest, demanding dignity and accountability.
Adoor, then serving as chairman of the institute, was criticised for defending Mohan and dismissing the allegations. His comments led to intense backlash from students and the public, eventually resulting in both Adoor and Mohan stepping down.
By releasing the Instagram video, KRNNIVSA has publicly rebutted Adoor’s latest claims and sought to correct the narrative. The inclusion of department heads, classroom visuals, and teaching sessions underscores the institute’s effort to show that it is fully functional and staffed—contrary to Adoor’s assertion that “there is no idea what kind of education happens there.”
Adoor’s interview to Asianet News came amid growing backlash over his speech at the film conclave, where he was criticised for casteist remarks questioning the extent of government support for SC, ST, and women filmmakers.