Actor Joy Mathew has responded to social media posts targeting him following actor Raveendran’s appointment as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Raveendran was appointed chairman on September 25, with actor and cultural activist Priyanka Nair named vice-chairperson. Joy Mathew, whose name had reportedly been discussed in connection with the post, addressed the reactions in a sarcastic Facebook post and congratulated Raveendran and his team.
Joy Mathew says he has ‘no reason to be upset’
Following Raveendran’s appointment, Joy Mathew shared a post addressing what he described as reactions from his “well-wishers”. The actor-director used sarcasm while referring to social media posts that appeared to mock or target him after the announcement.In the post, Joy wrote: “Ever since actor Raveendran was announced as the chairman of the Chalachitra Academy, my well-wishers — especially the revolutionary party slaves — have been upset.”He went on to reference his role as a woodcutter in Chirakodinja Kinavukal, using the character as the basis for his response.“Looking at the kind of posts they have been putting up, one might think they had been waiting for this by pouring palm oil into their eyes at midnight. It’s alright, comrades, it’s alright. I have no reason to be upset like you because, 10 years ago, I played the role of a firewood cutter in ‘Chirakodinja Kinavukal’. Congratulations to Raveendran and his team.”Joy’s reference was to Virakuvettukaran, the father of Rima Kallingal’s character Sumathi in the 2015 Malayalam film. Contemporary reports had identified Joy as the actor playing the woodcutter character.
What role did Joy Mathew play in ‘Chirakodinja Kinavukal’?
Directed by Santhosh Viswanath, ‘Chirakodinja Kinavukal’ starred Sreenivasan, Kunchacko Boban and Rima Kallingal, with Joy Mathew playing Virakuvettukaran.The film expanded the fictional story of N. P. Ambujakshan, Sreenivasan’s character from Azhakiya Ravanan (1996). In ‘Chirakodinja Kinavukal’, Ambujakshan attempts to get his story made into a film, revisiting the romance between Sumathi and a tailor while introducing a spoof-driven take on familiar Malayalam cinema tropes.Joy’s character, Virakuvettukaran, is Sumathi’s father. He opposes her relationship with the tailor and wants her to marry an NRI, setting up one of the central conflicts in the story.
What was ‘Chirakodinja Kinavukal’ about?
Released in 2015, ‘Chirakodinja Kinavukal’ was conceived as a satirical take on the conventions and clichés associated with Malayalam romantic cinema. Kunchacko Boban played multiple characters, including the tailor who falls in love with Sumathi, while Rima Kallingal played Sumathi. Sreenivasan returned as N. P. Ambujakshan from Azhakiya Ravanan, with the film presenting Ambujakshan’s story through a contemporary spoof framework.The plot centres on Sumathi and the tailor’s romance, which faces opposition from her father Virakuvettukaran. His plans to arrange her marriage to an NRI lead to a series of comic complications, with the film playing on familiar elements of romantic dramas.
Raveendran appointed Chalachitra Academy chairman
The Kerala government appointed actor Raveendran as the new chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on September 25. Priyanka Nair was named vice-chairperson, while actor Salim Hassan and filmmaker Jofin T. Chacko were appointed to the executive committee. The academy’s general council was also reconstituted.Raveendran has worked extensively as an actor in Malayalam and Tamil cinema. He has also been associated with film festivals as an organiser and curator. According to the government announcement reported by Kerala media, the new leadership is expected to place greater emphasis on the artistic and technical aspects of filmmaking.Raveendran has also said that promoting film literacy will be among the priorities, including initiatives aimed at schools and colleges, while highlighting preparations for the upcoming International Film Festival of Kerala.
