Thiruvananthapuram: S Padmanabhan, known as Dosti Padman, a veteran theater artist, is grappling with financial hardship after the Pinarayi government allegedly slashed his pension, pushing him into a state of starvation. Padman, who depended solely on his pension, had applied for a transition from old-age pension to the artists’ pension in the Nava Kerala Sadas programme. However, the government not only discontinued his existing pension but also denied him the artists’ pension.
The government has decided that an individual is eligible to receive only one pension. Dosti Padmanabhan, having lost both his old-age and artists’ pension, now struggles to secure funds for his daily sustenance. Less than 3000 individuals in Kerala currently receive artists’ pension.
Dosti Padman, a prominent figure in the theater community, played a pivotal role in introducing film actor Jayaram to the stage before the latter ventured into the film industry. Beginning his career as a theater artist in the early 70s, Padman excelled as an actor, director, makeup artist, and songwriter, leaving an indelible mark in various facets of the theater.
Comments