Trissur (Kerala), March 4: For the second day running noted critic Sukumar Azhikode blasted Malayalee actor Mohanlal for using his army uniform to endorse products such as jewellery and khadi. Sukumar Thursday asked Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who made Mohanlal an honorary Lt. Colonel in the Territorial Army, for an explanation.

Just because he has acted in a few films as an army officer he was commissioned into the TA battalion. And now he uses that (his uniform) to sell jewellery. Antony owes an explanation for this," Azhikode told reporters here.

Azhikode and Mohanlal have been at loggerheads ever since the former came out in the open to defend thespian Thilakan whose outbursts against superstars led to his suspension from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) Monday.

The state government should appoint a committee to inquire about the undesirable activities in AMMA where there are allegations of sexual exploitation taking place," said Azhikode.

It was a disgrace that Mohanlal was made the brand ambassador to promote the use of Khadi products by the Kerala government, he said.

A person who endorses liquor is now endorsing Khadi products. This is a disgrace to Mahatma Gandhi," Azhikode said.

Azhikode has asked the Culture Minister not to shirk his responsibility towards solving the labour issue in which actor Thilakan was involved.

Prof. Azhikode who was addressing a meet-the-press programme at the Thrissur Press Club on Wednesday demanded an investigation into the functioning of film trade bodies and the recent controversies in which they were caught.

“The leadership of these organisations should change. Do organisations such as the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes intervene in socio-political issues? What is their real contribution to art and culture? Did they utter a word on artist M.F. Husain's nationality issue? The film industry has degenerated into a morass of unsavoury and exploitative practices.”

He was critical of the decision of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit to confer honorary D.Litt degree on actor Mohanlal. He wanted such honours to be given to actors of stature like Kalamandalam Gopi. He wanted the Governor to intervene and revoke the decision.

On his part, he would refrain from delivering a lecture in connection with the birth centenary of writer and freedom fighter, O.M.C. Narayanan Namboodiripad, at the University on March 10 in protest against its decision.