Kerala
State
Film
Awards
Controversy:
Amidst
serious
allegations
against
Kerala
State
Chalachitra
Academy
chairman
Ranjith,
a
main
jury
member
and
the
chairman
of
the
preliminary
jury
of
the
Kerala
State
Film
Awards,
Nemom
Pushparaj,
confirmed
director
Vinayan's
accusations
that
Ranjith
engaged
in
manipulative
politics
to
prevent
the
movie
'Pathonpatham
Noottandu'
from
receiving
awards
in
the
Kerala
State
Film
Awards.
Director
Vinayan
accused
Ranjith
of
meddling
in
the
Kerala
State
Film
Award
selection
process
and
misusing
his
position
as
Chairman
of
the
Kerala
State
Chalachitra
Academy.
Nemom
Pushparaj
Confirms
Ranjith's
Interference
in
Film
Awards
Vinayan
presented
evidence
to
support
his
claim
through
a
Facebook
post
and
released
an
audio
clip
of
Nemom
Pushparaj
speaking
out
against
Ranjith,
affirming
his
interference
in
the
award
decision.
In
the
audio,
Pushparaj
stated
that
Ranjith
has
lost
all
credibility
to
continue
as
the
Chairman
of
the
Kerala
State
Chalachitra
Academy.
Following
the
revelations
by
the
jury
member,
Vinayan
urged
the
Kerala
Government
to
take
action
against
Ranjith,
who
allegedly
manipulated
the
competition
list
to
sideline
a
particular
movie.
Vinayan
called
for
a
thorough
investigation
and
accountability
from
the
government.
Earlier,
the
controversy
erupted
when
director
Vinayan
accused
Kerala
State
Chalachitra
Academy
chairman
Ranjith
of
interference
in
the
selection
of
Kerala
State
film
awards
this
year.
Vinayan
also
accused
that,
even
though
the
academy
secretary
and
others
received
complaints
against
Ranjith's
alleged
intervention,
the
authority
didn't
take
any
action.
Vinayan
claimed
to
have
substantial
evidence
proving
that
Ranjith
attempted
to
prevent
his
film
'Pathonpatham
Noottandu' from
receiving
any
awards.
He
alleged
that
although
one
jury
member
strongly
advocated
for
the
film
to
receive
the
award
in
the
category
of
Best
Art
Direction,
jury
member
Gauthami
opposed
the
decision
under
Ranjith's
influence.