Renowned filmmaker and Dadasaheb Phalke award recipient Adoor Gopalakrishnan has launched a severe criticism against the recent National Film Awards, alleging that the selection process repeatedly honors inferior quality films.
Jury Quality Under Scanner
Speaking to PTI reporters on Sunday, the veteran director did not mince words when he stated, "If the quality of the jury is poor, it will select bad films for recognition." Gopalakrishnan expressed deep concern about the declining standards of the prestigious awards.
The acclaimed filmmaker went a step further by warning that if this disturbing trend continues, it might be better to completely abandon the awards system. He asserted with conviction, "For some time now, the worst films of the year have been getting the National Awards. It needs to be investigated how this is happening."
Original Purpose Compromised
Gopalakrishnan highlighted that the fundamental objective of the National Film Awards appears to have been reversed. He emphasized that the original purpose was to recognize and promote quality cinema, but currently the exact opposite seems to be occurring.
The veteran filmmaker pointed out that the awards were initially established to encourage excellence in Indian cinema, but recent selections have raised serious questions about whether this goal is being achieved.
Industry-Wide Backlash Grows
Gopalakrishnan is not alone in his criticism of the National Film Awards. Several prominent figures from Indian cinema have expressed similar disappointment about what they perceive as a dilution of the awards' integrity and credibility.
Veteran actor-director Prakash Raj recently described the National Awards as "compromised" and stated that they did not deserve legendary actor Mammootty, indicating the depth of dissatisfaction within the industry.
Earlier this year, the Best Supporting Actress win for veteran actress Urvashi triggered significant outcry in the Malayalam film industry. Many industry professionals, including Urvashi herself, questioned the jury's decision to award roles that they felt were mis-categorized, raising serious doubts about the criteria being used for selection.
The controversy extended to other winners as well, particularly the film The Kerala Story, which received two major honors for Best Director and Best Cinematography. The film's dramatic subject matter and allegations of propaganda provoked severe backlash from various quarters.
Veteran actress Ranjini called the recognition a "shame" that "marries the purity of the highest awards" with what she described as "fake story" status.
Many industry insiders have warned that the awards' credibility may suffer permanent damage if such controversial selections continue to dominate the winners' list, potentially undermining the prestige associated with National Film Awards in the long term.
