Nigerian actor accuses Keralite movie producers of racism

A Nigerian actor, who played a prominent character in a recently released Malayalam movie, has accused its producers of "racial discrimination" after they allegedly paid him less compared to his Indian co-stars.

Samuel Abiola Robinson, who played the role of a footballer in the movie 'Sudani from Nigeria', alleged in a Facebook post that he was paid less as he was "black".

Directed by debutant Zakaria Mohammed, the movie, revolving around a football club in Malappuram district of the state, has won the hearts of the masses and is running to packed houses.

Robinson, who returned to his country recently after taking part in the celebration of the film's success, said he does not want to allow the discrimination to happen to another "helpless young black actor."

"I believe that I was a victim of racial discrimination while in Kerala," Robinson said in the post.

"It was nothing violent or directly in my face but for my role in Sudani from Nigeria, the producers offered me far less money than Indian actors who are not half as popular or accomplished as i am would normally earn (sic)," he said.

However, in another Facebook post, the young actor made it clear that he did not experience any "racist treatment" from the public in Kerala.

"I do not think that Kerala people are racist as I experienced no such racist treatment from the general Kerala public. I very much enjoyed my stay in Kerala, the culture, the Biryani and all," he said.

The actor said he had come to know about the "discrimination" after meeting several young actors and discussing payment with them.

"I am of the opinion that this (under payment) happened purely because of my skin color and the assumption that all Africans are poor and don't know the value of money," he said.

Robinson played the role of a football player who becomes part of a local soccer club in Malappuram district of the south Indian state.

He, however, said Zakariya, the movie's director, did his best to help him but as he was not financing the movie himself, "there was very little change he could foster."

Even the least experienced Indian newcomer in the Malayalam film industry would be paid considerably more than what he had received, the actor claimed.

Urging people to say no to racial or caste discrimination, Robinson said as he was "black", it was his responsibility to speak up to "ease the suffering of the next generation of black actors."

However, Sameer Thahir and Shyju Khalid, the producers of 'Sudani from Nigeria', released on March 23, are yet to react to the allegations.

The director, Zakariya, was unavailable for comments.

Robinson, who began his career as an actor in 2013, has appeared in several productions in Africa such as Walt Disney's 'Desperate Housewives Africa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)