THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: National Award-winning actress Surabhi Lakshmi has finally got the official invite to attend the IFFK closing ceremony, but she may not as she has her hands full with other engagements. Surabhi confirmed this to reporters at the main venue of Tagore Theatre on Tuesday after her award-winning Minnaminungu was screened at the alternate venue of Lenin Balavadi. “Had I got the invite at least 10 days in advance, I would have attended. I have a programme in Fujairah,” said Surbhi.
She said she never intended to rake up a row over the non-invite. “This is not my first time at IFFK; perhaps none needs be invited to the festival. But when a journalist asked why I wasn’t on the dais on the opening day, I said the truth. Unfortunate this time I am the controversy at IFFK,” she said. Meanwhile, film director Anil Thomas alleged that a mafia is controlling the IFFK.
“Movies showcased here are all not excellent ones. They had claimed that a film rejected from the competition section couldn’t be screened anywhere else, but that’s not being followed for all movies”, said Anil. Kamal had told DC that IFFK was not a platform to honour award-winning actors in Malayalam. But, the next day, at the IFFK, Kamal himself did the honours by feting Parvathy, the best actress at recent IFFI.
