Mohanlal officially accepts chief guest invite to Kerala State Awards amid protests from industry

Amid a row as various sections of people, including from the film industry, writing to the Kerala government that Mohanlal should not be invited as the Chief Guest to the annual state film awards, an invite was extended to him Wednesday (25 July) and he has accepted it. State Culture and Cinemas Minister A.K. Balan, on behalf of the Kerala government, officially extended the invite and that was accepted by the superstar, said sources in the know of the things. The awards will be given away on 8 August at a function here. [caption id=“attachment_4822491” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Mohanlal/Image from Facebook.[/caption] Balan and the state government got into high gear after half a dozen film centric organisations that matter in the Malayalam film industry expressed their ire that the superstar is being drawn into a needless controversy. _Also read: Why Kerala is angry with Mohanlal off-screen: Several artistes threaten to boycott State Awards if actor is chief guest_ Mohanlal, who last month took over as President of film body Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), first came under fire from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) for revoking the suspension of accused actor Dileep’s membership of the grouping. Dileep is an accused in the 2017 kidnapping of an actress.