Creative artists should keep out of politics: Murali Gopi

An artist loses his power to comment on the system when he enters politics 'says writer-actor Murali Gopy, who will next be seen in filmmaker Kamal's biopic on Madhavikkutty
You are acting as Madhavikkutty's husband Madhava Das in Kamal's film. Is it a love of her works that made you take up the movie?
Madhavikkutty has her own unique place of honour in the literary space of Kerala.She is so enigmatic that she is many things to many people. She has always fascinated me as a character, and it's an honour to be part of this project. Kamal sir had told me about the project much earlier, and that he had considered me for this character from the outset. The film will be a huge cinematic challenge and I hope it would be a great experience.
Madhavikkutty's portrayal of her husband has been a bit controversial in some of her works. How will the character be represented in this film?
I have always felt that there is a half-fictional, half-real husband in her literary works, who comes under the husband's name. Kamal sir, I think, has approached the character in a very realistic manner. His script, it seems to me, has drawn its energies not only from Madhavikkutty's books but also from various other writings, accounts and anecdotes regarding her life. It has been written after extensively conversing with her friends and people associated with her.
The films that you write often have a distinct political angle. Do you feel that films should have them instead of being just entertainers?
There is no particular stress paid on any such 'angles'. My attempt is to portray human behaviour and interactions, the way I see it, as intensely as I can. I am someone who believes that a film should have as many angles as possible, not just the political one, depending on the theme. Entertainment is necessary but it shouldn't be the only element in a film.
Your view on actors entering politics'
I keep a distance from everything related to electoral politics. I personally believe that an artist should not support any political entity, because such first person participation would deprive him of the skill to comment on himself and on the system. He would, by default, be expected to defend whatever agenda his party is throwing up in the name of ideology. I think that is a big drawback, and a trap. And I also feel that such participation would create a latent creative stress that would implode sooner or later.
What do you feel about the changes recommended by Shyam Benegal's committee panel for the Censor Board?
I'm all in support of the revisions, and feel they should have been brought in long back. It would be a great step towards a more relaxed creative ambience.
Art is the expressing arm of a democracy, and no one has the right to cut off that arm, or even bruise it. Censoring of art is anti-democratic and autocratic. No panel must be allowed to decide what the people of a democratic nation should and shouldn't see. There, of course, should be a certification authority to decide whether a film qualifies to be seen by children or not, for psychological and sociological reasons. In an age where all kinds of content are available on smartphones, strangulating cinema is an unsound practice.
What are you scripting now?
I have two projects, which are expected to hit the floors this year. The first is Tiyaan, to be directed by Jiyen Krishnakumar,
where Prithviraj does the main character. Kammarasambhavam, to be directed by Rathish Ambat, has Dileep in the lead. The films I have done so far had been of different genres and narrative styles. So would be these two films.
Would you yourself script a biopic some time?
I would like to, yes. But making a biopic requires a lot of detailed research and an unbiased creative approach. It's a huge responsibility.
Have you ever had to encounter interference from others in your script?
As a scriptwriter, I go into the minutest detail of my work. I am constantly present during the different stages of a film, and I don't face any interference, as such.
Lukka Chuppi was your last major onscreen outing'
I have been busy scripting and so was not accepting any acting offers. I am not good at multi-tasking. I take time to write, and I usually don't act while I am writing.
But now that these two scripts are done, I've started listening to scripts again. I have finished the shoot of Suraj Tom's 'Pappanekkurichum Varkiyekkurichum'. It is expected to hit the screens in July. I will be playing a major character in Tiyaan, and a cameo in 'Kammarasabhavam'.
Any dream project?
Every project I do is my dream project. I throw my entire weight behind what I'm doing at any given point.