'They need to be taught how a film is made': Adoor Gopalakrishnan on SC filmmakers, women directors; sparks controversy

Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has come under sharp criticism after his remarks at the closing ceremony of the Kerala government’s Film Conclave raised eyebrows.Speaking about the Kerala State Film Development Corporation’s (KSFDC) support for films made by women and those from Scheduled Caste communities, Adoor said that such filmmakers should be given “proper training” before being allowed to direct.The ace director said, “They need to be taught how a film is made... Just letting someone direct a film without guidance is not a good way of promoting them”. Adoor criticized the state’s decision to allocate Rs 1.5 crore per filmmaker under the KSFDC’s inclusive funding scheme. He argued that instead of one large grant, the amount should be divided to benefit more filmmakers. “This is not money for star-driven projects,” he said. “It is for making good films.”While he claimed to support representation, his assertion that selection shouldn’t be based “just because someone is a woman” or from a Scheduled Caste prompted visible discomfort among attendees. Director Dr. Biju and others at the event expressed open disagreement, highlighting the importance of trust, opportunity, and access in creative spaces rather than presumptions about skill or merit. Adoor further said, "Likewise, just because someone is a woman, they should not be allowed to direct a film. Women directors too should be given training. There are some very good women directors. We need even more good women filmmakers." In the same speech, Adoor reignited another controversy by labeling the protests at the K.R. Narayanan Film Institute — which challenged his leadership and alleged caste-based discrimination — as “filthy agitation.” He claimed discipline was being instilled and blamed students for the institute’s fall from grace. Additionally, he took a jab at the television industry, saying, “There’s not even a single good programme worth watching.”Meanwhile, earlier in an event, the veteran director said, "True cinema should touch life and reflect reality. Making cinema is easy, but good cinema is difficult."