Mohanlal to return National Games performance fees after criticism over band Lalisom’s performance

Stung by criticism over his band's poor show at the opening ceremony of National Games, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal said he would return the entire amount.

Stung by criticism about his band’s poor show at the opening ceremony of the ongoing National Games, Kerala’s matinee idol Mohanlal on Monday said he would return the entire amount he had claimed for the show to the government.

Mohanlal‘s recently floated musical band, ‘Lalisom’, had its debut performance during the inauguration of the national games. The much-hyped show had come under fire in social media for its poor performance although traditional media in Kerala had eulogized the show. Audience has been venting its ire against the show on social media for the past two days. On Monday, senior leaders of the Congress also blamed Lalism for spoiling the inauguration of the national games.

Subsequently, Mohanlal announced that his band ‘Lalisom’ was returning Rs 1.60 crore which they had claimed from the national games for the show. In a letter to Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Mohanlal said he staged the show after the Chief Minister and the sports minister sought his presence during the inauguration of the national games.

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“They approached me asking whether I can stage Lalisom during the inauguration of the National Games when another proposed show did not materialise. I wanted to stage the show without claiming any payment. But, I had to pay for the artistes who had toiled on the stage and off the stage. Hence, I had claimed Rs 1.60 crore from the government for meeting the cost of the persons who had participated in the show,” he said.

He said he was pained by the criticism raised against the show and he was returning Rs 1.60 crore to the government to get out of the controversy. My audience should not harbour any doubt about me. I don’t want to see my name, as an artiste, being dragged into controversies, said Mohanlal.

This was the first time that Mohanlal, who has been in the film industry for last 36 years, had drawn flake from a section of audience. When traditional media extended their support for the actor, an angry audience found social media as their platform to attack the show of the star actor.

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