Chief minister roped in to promote film?

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 13 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, a man usually busy attending party meetings, was seen in a movie hall here Friday night, watching a Malayalam film along with its director.

The grapevine is that 'Palunku', directed by Blessy, whose previous two films 'Kazcha' and 'Thanmatra' were roaring box office hits, has not been able to draw crowds.

The director has, however, refused to comment whether he brought the chief minister to the theatre for publicity.

The film is about the chief minister's pet subjects of farmer suicides and harassment of women.

Superstar Mammootty plays a farmer, who moves from his village to a city to educate his daughters. One of the girls is raped later.

Speaking to IANS, Blessy said Achuthanandan told him that he had enjoyed the movie.

"However, his secretary later said the film addressed the current issues faced by the state, where farmers get a raw deal and women are harassed," the director said.

Another blessing in disguise for Blessy is that most of the 30,000 video libraries in the state are closed following police raids, resulting in more people visiting the theatres.