Kochi witnessed an unfortunate incident during the promotional events of the upcoming Kannada film Korgajja, which actor Kabir Bedi described as disrespectful and regrettable.
The Korgajja team alleged that actor Mammootty’s team deliberately scheduled the press conference for their Malayalam film Chathapach at the same time, leading to the cancellation of the Korgajja event.
Korgajja is a pan-Indian Kannada film based on the story of the local deity Korgajja from Karnataka’s Tulu Nadu region. Kabir Bedi plays a significant role in the film. The Korgajja team had sent invitations to media houses a week in advance, and Kabir Bedi along with actress Bhavya had travelled to Kochi specifically for the press meet. However, just a day before the event, Mammootty’s team announced their press conference for the same time slot.
The Korgajja team claims this was a deliberate move, knowing Mammootty’s large star power would attract a majority of the media. In smaller cities like Kochi, where many journalists cover multiple beats alone, holding two major events simultaneously goes against industry norms. Usually, public relations officers coordinate to avoid such clashes, but that did not happen this time. Late at night, the Korgajja team received a call from their PRO informing them that Mammootty’s side requested the cancellation or postponement of Korgajja’s press meet as journalists would not be able to attend.
Despite having spent millions of rupees on the event, the Korgajja team had to cancel the press meet due to Mammootty’s overwhelming influence. A smaller interaction with limited media was held at 5 pm, but the film’s promotion suffered a significant setback.
Director Sudhir Attavar and producer Trivikram Saplya expressed their disappointment, calling the behaviour unacceptable and damaging to the Malayalam film industry’s reputation. Trivikram Saplya highlighted that while the film’s promotion had been successful nationwide—with over 100 journalists attending the Mangaluru event—the incident in Kochi was unfortunate. He noted that many Malayalam technicians and singers are part of the film, yet obstacles were created.
The director questioned why Malayalam films receive full support in Bengaluru, where millions of Kannada viewers watch them, but such issues arise in Kochi. He warned that such actions might fuel language-based tensions.
Kabir Bedi, a fan of Malayalam cinema, which has won 25 percent of India’s national awards, had come to Kochi out of respect for the industry. He called the incident unfortunate and said, “It is possible that Mammootty was unaware, but disrupting a pre-scheduled event just a day before is wrong. Proper coordination with media and PROs should have been ensured.”
Actress Bhavya also voiced her displeasure, stating that disrespecting an internationally acclaimed actor like Kabir Bedi in this manner is unacceptable.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment