Thilakan to don grease paint in 'Achen'

Thiruvananthapuram, May 24 (IANS) Thespian Thilakan, who was ousted from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) on the grounds of indiscipline, is all set to don the grease paint after a few months.

Speaking to IANS after appearing before the labour commissioner here Monday, Thilakan said director Ali Akbar has signed him in the lead role for his next film 'Achen'.

'Akbar told me that he has taken it as a challenge to cast me in his film. He has said that he does not care what the consequences are going to be. The shooting will commence next month,' said the 74-year-old.

It was in April that Thilakan was shown the door by AMMA for publicly condemning the association's office bearers. He had called AMMA a mafia that does not take care of the interests of the artistes.

At the height of the feud, a well-wisher of the actor, Sreekumar Noornadu filed a petition before the state human rights commission that Thilakan was being victimised by various film bodies and his right to work is being curbed.

Following this petition, the commission asked the labour commissioner to conduct a hearing and settle the issue.

'I appeared in person before Commissioner C. Reghu. According to the rules, he told me that the hearing has to take place in front of the other parties also. Since none came from AMMA, he asked me if it was fine that they be given one more chance and I said yes. The hearing is now slated for June 17,' said Thilakan.

At the next hearing, superstar Mohanlal and AMMA president Innocent are expected to appear.

Thilakan said he is happy as the earlier myth that none can produce a film without paying prescribed fees to the producers association has fallen flat.

'These things came out after a petition was filed under the Right to Information and it has been clearly said that no one needs to pay any fees to any organisation for directing or producing a film. I am happy that because of me, at least this myth has fallen flat,' Thilakan said.