With Mollywood turning its face away, the National Best Actor Award winner Salim Kumar is pinning his hopes on Bollywood star Aamir Khan for valuable tips on promoting his film Adaminte Makan Abu, which is the official Indian entry for the Oscars.
“None of the big names of Malayalam film industry has bothered to even acknowledge Adaminte Makan Abu’s selection as official entry to the Oscars,’’ a disappointed Salim Kumar told this newspaper when asked whether the Mollywood superstars had offered any help.
“I am turning to Aamir Khan to learn about problems that low-budget film makers face in promoting their movies in the run up to the Oscars.”
Salim Kumar and the makers of Abu, who require at least `2 crore to promote the film, is particularly peeved at the response of the minister for cinema, Mr K.B. Ganesh Kumar.
“We have not even sought his help but he is already out with a statement talking about the huge debts of his department,’’ he said. “This is not expected of a minister.”
But Salim Kumar also glimpses an oasis of hope in the far-off deserts. “I am getting phone calls from ordinary Malayalis in the Gulf offering help,” he said.
“They say, ‘Chetta we are with you and we will surely contribute in whatever little way we can.’ I am not going to bother them, their words hold out lot of hope for me.” “Aamir Khan is a veteran as far as Oscars are concerned,” said Salim Kumar.
“I came to know that he spent a huge amount for the promotion of his film Peepli Live which was India’s official entry to the Oscars in 2010. Maybe he can help me.”