Sukumar Azhikode wants Mohanlal to give up Territorial Army title

KOCHI/CHENNAI: Prominent Malayalam writer and critic Sukumar Azhikode has demanded that Mohanlal be stripped of his honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.

"It is indeed sad that actors are resorting to such tactics", Azhikode said after reports about income tax raids at the homes and offices of megastars Mammootty and Mohanlal.

Picking on Mohanlal, Azhikode said defence minister AK Antony should recommend to the president that the actor be stripped of his title of lieutenant colonel. "Mohanlal is misusing that title", Azhikode said.

Azhikode and Mohanlal had earlier been at odds over the issue of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (Amma) reportedly denying opportunities for actor Thilakan in Malayalam movies. Azhikode had at that time commented that an ageing Mohanlal should pick roles that suit him, and Mohanlal retorted that the writer was having hallucinations.