Mohanlal, known as an enduring icon who has seldom hit a false note in his career spanning three decades, is facing heat on social media for lip-syncing songs in a stage performance at the inaugural ceremony of the 35th National Games.
‘LALisom’, the music band helmed by Mohanlal, has come under heavy criticism on social media.
Posts and memes on Facebook targeted the actor for lip-syncing in the Saturday event that had the band making its stage debut at the newly constructed greenfield stadium at Karyavattom on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram.
Critics said the quality of singing as well as the choice of tracks were not in tune with the standards of a national event. Reports said LALisom has been disbanded.
However, Ratheesh Vega, a popular music director who composes tracks for the group, dismissed the reports as baseless.
The state government’s decision to offer the coveted stage to a new band had attracted widespread criticism ahead of the event. Amid reports that Mohanlal was being paid Rs 2 crore for the band’s performance and an audio-visual tribute to Kunjali Marakkar, a 16th century naval chief, the actor clarified that he had not accepted any remuneration and the money was only being spent on putting together the show that covered expenses on artistes and equipment.
The disappointment over the show has now also led to a Facebook campaign where members demanded the band to return the remuneration.
Senior leaders of the ruling Congress, including K Muraleedharan, expressed disappointment over the stage show. CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the issue was not about Mohanlal but the “excesses” of the state government.
Mohanlal has sung popular tracks for his films, including the chartbuster “Aattumanal paayayil” for his 2012 hit “Run Baby Run”.
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