Govt to respond to Mohanlal's decision Wednesday

Thiruvananthapuram: State Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan Tuesday said the Kerala government would respond Wednesday to superstar Mohanlal's offer to return Rs 1.63 crore, which he received for organising a stage show for the opening ceremony of the National Games but got entangled in a controversy.

"Let the Chief Minister return here and we will take a decision after discussion," he said when asked whether the government would be taking a generous stand and request the actor to reconsider his decision.

The event - Lalisom - was a flop as some performers allegedly bluffed viewers by lip-syncing, forcing Mohanlal to make an offer to return the amount.

Though a final call on this will be made only tomorrow, the thinking is strong in the government that taking back money would be discourteous and humiliating for a major artist like Mohanlal.

In an e-mail to the government, Mohanlal had last evening said he was "pained" by the controversy and expressed the hope that returning the money would end the row.

"The government approached me at the last minute and asked me to perform the Lalisom show at the opening ceremony after a musical event that was earlier planned did not take off. For the past three weeks, I and my team have been working hard to bring this on the stage."

"I am pained by the allegations that have been levelled against the band. I hope my returning the money will put an end to all the controversy," Lal had said in his mail.

"I have no complaints against those who trivialise my weeks-long dedication and hard work which I put in for the success of the show. But I am very particular that my fans and admirers should have no suspicion about me with regards to the issue," he added.

The performance of the band, in which Mohanlal himself sang a number of songs along with some well known singers, invited wide spread criticism, not only from film and music circles, but also from the political fraternity.