MACTA turns against Mammootty
Director Vinayan, president of the Malayalam Cine Technicians' Association Federation (MACTA) and General Secretary Baiju Kottarakara have alleged in a press conference at Thiruvananthapuram that under the guidance of superstars, especially Mammootty, attempts are being made to�refuse jobs for MACTA's technicians and labourers.
Vinayan pointed out that senior editor Murali has been expelled from Sreenivasan starrer�Kadha, Samvidhanam: Kunchacko and dubbing artiste Sreeja from�Vineeth-Kavya Madhavan starrer�Banaras. “Many popular film personalities are planning to quit the field due to the hegemonic attitudes of stars. Mammootty, though�a leftist, is planning to destroy the trade unions of the film industry.” Vinayan also charged Mammootty for striking a deal with a corporate giant which has recently forayed into media business.
The MACTA officials have already sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister V.S. Achuthananthan, Cultural Affairs minister M.A. Baby, Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan and Labour Commissioner of the state to intervene in the current crisis in Mollywood. According to Vinayan, the Chief Minister has promised to convene a meeting within two weeks to discuss the issue.
Interestingly,�this is not the first time�MACTA officials�have clashed with Malayalam superstars. In June 2008, when Mohanlal said (amid factional feuds in MACTA) that the union does not have affiliation with any national organization, the federation lashed out at the superstar, asking him to mind his own business and not to meddle in the affairs of the union. As a result, 48 leading Malayalam directors resigned from MACTA, voicing displeasure at the manner in which Vinayan was running (and ruining)�the affairs of the forum.
