Actor Asif Ali interacts with students during a promotional event at St Albert’s College in Ernakulam on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: RK Nithin
Actor Asif Ali has said it is not fair to launch a hate campaign against music composer Ramesh Narayan. He thanked all those who supported him after a video of the composer allegedly “insulting” him at a film festival in Kochi went viral on Tuesday.
Saying that he was overwhelmed by the love and support he received following the controversy, the actor said he spoke to Sri Narayan on Wednesday morning. [Ramesh Narayan] He was trying to contact me since Tuesday. But my phone was switched off. He was on the verge of crying while apologising to me. I request everyone to refrain from the hate campaign against him as it was just a misunderstanding,” he said at a promotional event for his upcoming film. Level Cross Here.
Recalling the incident which took place at the trailer launch of the anthology series, Manorathangal In the show, based on the short stories of MT Vasudevan Nair, the actor revealed that the musician seemed worried after the anchor called him by the wrong name. “I stepped aside immediately after handing him the memento. I was not hurt by his actions or words,” he said.
A video of the event has surfaced in which the actor is seen stepping forward to hand over a memento to the composer. Shree Narayan, who composed the music for the film Swargam Thurkunna Samayam In the series directed by Jayaraj, the actor was seen receiving it without making eye contact. The musician was then seen waving at Mr Jayaraj, asking him to come and present him with a souvenir. Soon after the filmmaker presented him with the souvenir, his behaviour changed and he was seen smiling and hugging.
The actor received support from various quarters for maintaining his smile even after facing insults from the musician. Netizens were scathing in their comments and termed the musician’s behaviour as “unprofessional” and “very bad attitude”.
