Malayalam actor-director-scriptwriter Balachandra Menon is all set to make his comeback to films as director-actor after seven years with the film "Njan Samvidhanam Cheyyum".
In his recent interview with a popular Malayalam magazine Mathrubhumi Star and Style, he has thrashed Kamal Hassan, saying 'honour and clout' have turned the Ulaganayagan 'insane'.
The duo split during the shooting of the unreleased Tamil film "Kanden Seethaiyai" (1996), which was the remake of Menon's hit Malayalam film "Ammayane Sathyam" released in 1993.
The film was about the story of a girl who disguises herself as a boy to work as a servant in a house of bachelors.
Menon said that during the shooting of the remake version of the film with Haasan, Ramesh Arvind, Nassar and Ruchita Prasad in the lead roles, one of Haasan's friends came to the location and warned him that the film was giving importance to the female character and asked why he himself cannot do a female character.
Following this, the shooting of the remake version was stopped citing financial issues. Haasan was soon in the news for starring in his new movie "Avvai Shanmugi", in which he was seen in a female role. The film, released in 1996, was a box office hit.
Menon adds that Haasan still cannot face him due to this issue.
Read some excerpts of the interview below, as translated by Mathrubhumi.com below:
"Honour and clout can turn some persons insane. We can see such persons in the field of art and politics. Kamal Haasan belongs to this group. The film 'Ammayane Sathyam' revolves around the character played by actress Annie, who disguises herself as a boy named Thomas who serves as a servant in a house of bachelors. Kamal Haasan's friend from Tamil Nadu visited the shooting location. The film actually focuses on a female character. Kamal's friends pestered him by asking what is stopping him from donning the role of a female. Apparently, the shooting of the movie was stopped within one week. Kamal just cited some financial problems confronted by the producer for this. Even though I assured him of producing the film, Kamal was unwilling to cooperate. After two months, Kamal started filming his new movie 'Avvai Shanmugi'. He cannot face me still."
