THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The egoistic quarrels among film-makers in Malayalam have come out into the open with noted director Shaji N Karun accusing Kerala Chalachitra Academy chairman K R Mohanan of launching a `vilification campaign' against his new film `Kutty Srank,' being shown as part of Indian Panorama at the ongoing IFFI at Goa.

In an SMS complaint from Goa to state Culture Minister M A Baby, Shaji alleged that Mohanan and Academy Vice Chairman V K Joseph had tried to create a negative image of his film among the IFFI delegates during their four-day visit to the festival.

In his complaint, Shaji said he was perturbed by the attitude of the office-bearers of the Academy, formed for promoting Malayalam cinema.

`Kutty Srank' with Mammootty in the lead role and produced by Reliance, had already been screened at Montreal and Pusan film festivals. The film is one of the two Malayalam movies selected for the Indian panorama at IFFI.

Many directors were peeved at the rejection of their works by the Panorama Jury and the poor representation of Malayalam in this year's Panorama section. The Chalachitra Academy has also shared the view of these film-makers.

Terming Shaji's complaint as `totally baseless,' Mohanan said he had actually told the delegates who interacted with him in Goa to watch Malayalam movies in the Panorama. "If Shaji's film is good, people will watch it and I don't think he needs promotion," he said.