Recently there was a discussion in Varnachitram about Malayalam actor Mohan Lal appearing in the advertisement of a liquor company with that famous selling line, “what’s up this evening?“. The article argued that Mohan Lal should not be blamed for selling liquor. The opposition is against Mohan Lal, an actor who has high influence on Keralites particularly on youngsters, promoting liquor.
Now what made Mohan Lal do the advertisement?
As an Economic Times news article says it’s purely business.
Southern matinee idol Mohanlal is forging a strategic pact with Paul John Enterprises to jointly develop a category of ‘evening snack foods’. Under the agreement, Mohanlal Taste Buds, which is already into the packaged food and restaurant business, will produce and distribute a product-line which could go well with beverages.
The argument of Mohan Lal and his supporters in this case is that it wouldn’t make any change in the liquor conception rate of Kerala just because Lal appeared in the ad. I do not buy this argument. Mohan Lal has high influence on youngsters in Kerala. His promotion of alcoholism can impact these youngsters (school and college students) and make them think drinking is a ‘cool’ thing and thus give it a start, which might lead to addiction for some.
I am not saying that a youngster who see this ad in the TV or movie hall would go straight to the bar and order for liquor and be an alcoholic. Its got something to do with the sub-cautious mind which will come into the action when the situation comes.
Now, let us look into some of the comments that appeared in the VC article that made sense to me (I put some words in bold to highlight).
Sree Says:
I believe it will have an impact, Mohanlal is a role model for lot of people, as VC had mentioned in the beginning of this article, they “love him sometimes more than their parents” (interesting!).
In my view messages have a great social impact, eventhough sceptic in us would say “what the heck”, remember people like Gandhiji, Sri Narayana Guru and V.S. Bhattathiripad reformed our society through simple messages.
Sandeep Says:
With concentrated effort celebrities can change the perception of the society, particularly the youth. Today movies promote alcoholism as a stylish recreation and is associated with power and might.
Mohanlal is the most saleable Brand in Kerala and its better used not promoting alcoholism. The brand value of Malabar Jewellery has definitely improved by its association with many celebrities.
And most importantly the following comment made me respect actor Suresh Gopi as a person and a social, celebrity figure. I think Malayalam cinema has never seen such a socially committed actor. Correct me if I am wrong. I hope you all remember him taking two HIV infected kids to their school to show the local people that the other kids won’t be affected with AIDS just because these kids study with them.
ANIL Says:
In an interview given by Suresh Gopi I read the actor refused to become the brand ambassador of a chewing gum since it proved it would create addiction on kids after he send the particular product to a lab test. That time he had no films at all and was going through a rough stage. The company offered him 15 lakhs to do it. Still he refused to play brand ambassador. That was really nice of him. It underlines the fact that a celebrity has got some obligations towards the society as a whole. Kudos to him.
Mohanlal is absolutely a millionaire. He could had skipped that booze ad. Well if it is for money you are making a lot of it. Then for what? As an actor you spend millions on a film like “Vaanaprastham” which did not collect. But film lovers applauds on your effort to enrich films. It proved you had some commitments and obligations towards the society as an actor. But before acting in a booze ad you had to think twice about your social commitments. Yes you definitely have some commitments towards the society as a whole. The matter is serious. It cannot be shoved aside with a grin.
On another note, a friend who tasted Original Choice after seeing the ads said he would never taste it again because it has a bad taste compared to the other popular brands. He even mentioned that Mohan Lal should have tasted it before being the brand ambassador of it. 
To act in a liquor advt is Mohan Lal’s original and personal choice. But to justify it by saying it doesn’t make any social issue is not fair. Instead just say, “I don’t care about the social effects of this advt, I just want to make more money“. People would easily understand this because we know antics cost you a fortune to collect.
March 29, 2007 at 6:41 am
i thought it was funny that him being in an ad caused so much trouble. Does he drink? Does he regret his decision to do the add because of all the bad press he’s been getting? He didn’t ask to be a role model, it was a byproduct of him being so popular in films. I’m not sure he needs to be a 100% cautious of the social repercussions of his actions. Parents and family serve as more important role models, and they should be more in charge of what influences their children than Mohan Lal. I understand that when kids are exposed to tv constantly, they can’t help but pick up some of their habits or values from what they see. However, I still maintain that in the end it’s the parents’ responsibility to instill good values in their kids, not a popular actor’s.
March 29, 2007 at 10:09 am
Hi
TV influences children. Celebrities influence teenagers. Celebrity worshipping and hero worshipping are part of the teenage life. Youngsters tend to imitate whatever their heroes do. And it is this teenagers who gets affected cautiously or sub-cautiously by such incidents.
I do not care if he drinks in his personal life. I am not asking him to stop drinking. Also I am not asking him to take the responsibility of instilling good values in children, but he could atleast try not to destroy their life. What I am asking of him is to be aware of the backlashes that the ad might cause and hold himself back from doing these ads, if he cares a little bit.
I think Mohan Lal can learn a thing or two from Suresh Gopi at whom we Mallus usually poke fun.
March 29, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Each year, Kerala guzzles 8.3 litres of liquor per person, the highest in India, and nearly three times the national rate.
Cheers! hic!
March 29, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Doesn’t Mohan Lal have the right to live his life the way he wants it? I agree 100% to Cakerfare’s comments. The moral values come from parents, family and teachers (I believe they play a big role) not some celebrity figure.
When did chewing a gum became a bad thing or even addictive? I read in recent article that chewing gum with vitamin C cures some gum diseases. May be Suresh Gopi didn’t get his facts right???
March 29, 2007 at 11:42 pm
First of all, I would request everyone to see things out of the fanhood perspective.
>> Lisa
I had mentioned this before and I am mentioning it again, I AM NOT ASKING MOHAN LAL TO STOP DRINKING OR LIVE HIM AS I (or anyone else) WANT HIM TO LIVE. I hope that much is clear. He is a social celebrity figure. My point was since he is largely ‘worshipped’ by the mass public of Kerala and particularly the youngsters and the youngsters tend to imitate their heroes in their ‘celebrity worshipping age’ (What do the psychiatrists call it? Impressionable age?) Mohan Lal must be aware of the damage his acting in a liquor advt can do.
I don’t understand why you are accusing Suresh Gopi without any base. He didn’t say he wouldn’t act in any chewing gum ads. If he thought that particular chewing gum would create addiction on the kids and refrained from acting in it (at a time he had no films to act and he was offered 15 lakhs to do the ad), isn’t it something to be appreciated?
According to the commentator, he sure got his facts right. Read again this part I highlighted in the bold letters:
I read the actor refused to become the brand ambassador of a chewing gum since it proved it would create addiction on kids after he sent the particular product to a lab test.
On a final note, I think moral values come in a person’s life from everywhere. Parents, family, friends and anyone with whom he/she interacts or share ideas with can influence the morale of a person.
April 1, 2007 at 4:51 am
[...] Jo covers the online grievance Forum and how a folk got himself heard and got the BSNL got show caused. Later in the week he debates if Mohan Lal is at fault for selling liquor. [...]
August 9, 2007 at 11:19 am
The..above..persons..have..no..idea…abt..Lal…so..leave..it..such..gossipps