Priyadarshan not to seek fresh term in Kerala Film Academy

Aug 7, 2014 IANS

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 7 (IANS) Ace director Priyadarshan, whose three year term as chairperson of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy is ending later this month, has decided against seeking a fresh term.

Minister for Cinema, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan confirmed to IANS that the director has sought to be relieved.

"The term is for three years and he expressed his willingness to move on. Now the state government will constitute a new committee and a new chairperson will be appointed very soon," said Radhakrishnan.

Even though the famed director has pointed out that he is hard pressed for time, the main reason, according to those in the know of things, was that he wanted to quit ever since his close friend and the previous minister for cinema K.B. Ganesh Kumar had to resign last year.

Priyadarshan was asked to stay on after there were reports that Kumar would be brought back into the Oommen Chandy cabinet, but with that now virtually becoming a non-starter due to political reasons, Priyadarshan decided not to seek a new term.

Incidentally, the chiarperson's job is not a full-time one and last year the acclaimed director helmed Mohanlal in the Malayalam film "Githanjali", which did not click as expected.

Among the names that are doing the rounds to replace Priyadarshan are internationally acclaimed award winning director Rajeevnath, who is known to be in the good books of the ruling Congress party.