Kerala
State
Film
Award
2023
Controversy:
An
incriminating
audio
recording
has
come
to
light,
alleging
that
Academy
Chairman
Ranjith
interfered
in
the
state
film
award
decision.
The
content
of
the
audio,
which
was
made
public
by
the
reporter
channel,
captures
a
conversation
between
jury
member
Nemom
Pushparaj
and
Director
Vinayan.
During
the
exchange,
Nemom
Pushparaj
reveals
that
Ranjith
dismissed
the
movie
'Pathonpatham
Noottandu'
as
subpar
and
advocated
for
its
exclusion
from
award
consideration.
"Ranjith
interfered
unnecessarily.
He
told
me
not
to
bother
the
final
jury
by
merely
considering
a
rubbish
movie
like
'Pathonpatham
Noottandu'.
I
asked,
'Why
not
consider?'
and
mentioned
that
various
aspects
should
be
taken
into
account,
such
as
the
film's
art
direction,
makeup,
costume,
and
choreography.
When
I
said
this,
the
other
members
of
the
jury
were
also
present.
I'm
sure
Ranjith
didn't
appreciate
that.
I
felt
deeply
insulted
by
Ranjith's
words.
With
Ranjith
in
the
chairman's
position,
no
one
receives
fair
judgement
in
award
decisions." These
are
the
statements
from
Nemom
Pushparaj
in
the
audio
recording
reported
by
the
reporter
channel.
Minister
Saji
Cherian
Reversed
His
Stance
On
Complaint
Against
Ranjith
Meanwhile,
Kerala's
Minister
of
Culture,
Saji
Cherian,
has
reversed
his
stance
regarding
the
accusation
against
Kerala
State
Chalachitra
Academy
Chairman,
Ranjith.
The
claim
suggests
Ranjith
attempted
to
sway
the
Kerala
State
Film
Award
jury.
Minister
Cherian
directly
engaged
with
jury
member
Nemom
Pushparaj,
the
whistleblower,
seeking
specific
details.
This
shift
follows
the
Chief
Minister's
directive
to
the
Culture
Department
to
investigate
the
complaint
filed
by
director
Vinayan
against
Ranjith.
Initially,
Minister
Saji
Cherian
refuted
allegations
of
Ranjith's
interference
in
the
award
decision.
However,
this
assertion
clashed
with
CPI's
stance.
When
party
leaders
intervened
and
the
Chief
Minister
initiated
an
inquiry,
Minister
Cherian
was
compelled
to
amend
his
stance.