I am a fan of the great actor Tilakan. Ever since I saw one expression on his face in the film Munambakkam, I have been fascinated by the intesity of this artiste. The scene I am talking about is the one where Tilakan meets his daughter in the film, Jayabharati, when she rushes from Delhi, on hearing the drowning her son, Jayaram in the film, in the sea. He was on a holiday with his friends at the time of the tragic accident. When she comes home, she meets Tilakan, and the gravity of the situation was superbly enacted by this great man. Many artistes are temperamental people who often behave in ways that are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. It is perhaps this temperemental aspect of their behaviour, which brings out sterling performances from them. A veteran actor must be given his due respect by showmen like Mohanlal and Mammooty. If, as alleged by Tilakan, Siddique had asked him to get out from a show, it is in very poor taste. Malayalam cinema could have done without such unsavoury incident, involving an actor who is definitely much beyond the acting calibre of the main showmen involved in the fracas. I am totally with Tilakan, and believe that indeed the Malayalam film industry is now infested with vested interests, who will run the industry in a mafia like manner. The actors have grown larger than life, thanks to the loud atrocious dialogues they are given to mouth in their films. I hope and pray that these men learn to respect a man like Tilakan.
