KOZHIKODE: TP 51, the controversial film based on the life of slain rebel Left leader T.P. Chandrasekharan, has earned the wrath of the CPM which has allegedly prevented its release in most theatres.
It will be screened only in four theatres owned by Kerala State Film Development Corporation, according to Moidu Thazhathu, director of the film. The CPM state committee has intervened to stop the screening in other places, he said.
“Earlier, 39 theatres across the state had agreed to screen the movie. But suddenly all the private theatres have rejected it at the behest of the CPM. This is a fascist move which must be condemned,” said Mr Thazhathu.
He added that the film exhibitors’ federation was roped in by the CPM to prevent its screening. The director had alleged on Wednesday that ‘Kerala Coir’ theatre in Vadakara had backtracked on showing the film succumbing to the pressure from the Left trade union.
CPM state committee member T.P. Ramakrishnan dismissed the allegations as baseless. “The party never intervened in the matter. CPM has no role in the refusal of the theatres to show the movie in Vadakara and elsewhere,” he told DC.
The shooting and censor board certification of the film were mired in controversies. It had claimed to portray the real life of the slain leader.
The outdoor unit vehicles were damaged during the shooting at Madikkal Mala, Vilangad, near Vadakara. The crew members were also threatened and abused on phone.
“Finally, we had to shift the location to Thodupuzha,” said Mr Thazhathu. The censor board refused to certify it citing that the names of characters such as T.P. and K.K. Rema were being used in the film. The certificate was obtained after screening it before the revising committee.
Film exhibitors’ federation president Liberty Basheer denied the claim that 39 theatres were ready to screen the film.
“Theatres are full with Onam releases. The federation has neither pressurized any theatre from showing the film nor the CPM has approached us,” clarified Basheer.
Minister for cinema, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, said that the film should be screened at theatres in Vadakara.
“The film director has complained that theatre owners in Vadakara were facing threats from the CPM. I do not agree with the stand of the CPM which supports freedom of expression,” Mr Thiruvanchoor added.
Brief outline
‘TP 51’ throws light on the life of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T.P. Chandrashekaran who was brutally hacked to death allegedly by a CPM gang at Vallikadu near Vadakara on May 4, 2012.
It starts with the political life of TP from his DYFI days to becoming a mass leader and his split with the CPM.
The floating of RMP, marriage with fellow comrade K.K. Rema, the circumstances which led to the formation of RMP etc are presented and the film ends with his murder.
Newcomer Ramesh Vadakara appears as TP and Devi Ajith as Rema. Others like Riyas Khan, Bheeman Raghu, Idavela Babu, Mamukoya, Valsala Menon and Sivaji Guruvayoor also play significant roles. The shooting for it had started in early 2014.
‘Tears won’t let me view the film’
“As the release date of ‘TP 51’ was nearing, I was under tremendous mental pressure. I don’t know if I could watch the film as it will be my real life running on screen.
Tears will prevent me from looking at the screen,” said K.K. Rema, wife of slain RMP leader T.P. Chandrashekharan.
She had okayed the full-script of the film. “A condition we put before the director of the film was that it should be based on facts without commercialisation,” she said.
Responding to the charge that the CPM was behind the refusal of theatres to screen the film, she said it was a fascist approach.
“Why a party which boasts of freedom of expression fears a film made out of TP’s life? They fear T.P. Chandrashekharan, RMP and the ideals we uphold,” she said. Rema added that the people should open their eyes to this move which resists criticism.
The film’s director Moithu Thazhathu was a former DYFI member of his native place Kainatty at Vadakara. He had directed the documentary ‘Kurumbranaadinte Thaalam’ for the CPM during the election campaign of LDF candidate of Vadakara, P. Satheedevi, in 2004.
He was also the second producer of the ‘Patturumaal’ musical programme which was aired on the party-affiliated channel, Kairali.
“I came out of the programme after the murder of T.P. Chandrashekharan. Also, the association with the party as a creative person was stopped since then,” said Mr Thazhathu.
