Kerala
CM
Orders
Probe
Into
Film
Awards
Controversy:
The
Chief
Minister
of
Kerala,
Pinarayi
Vijayan,
has
instructed
the
Culture
Department
to
conduct
an
inquiry
and
submit
a
report
regarding
the
complaint
accusing
Kerala
State
Chalachitra
Academy
Chairman
Ranjith
of
meddling
in
the
selection
process
for
the
Kerala
State
Film
Awards.
The
directive
follows
a
direct
complaint
made
by
Director
Vinayan
to
the
Chief
Minister.
Previously,
Vinayan
alleged
that
Ranjith
had
intervened
to
prevent
his
film
'Pathonpatham
Noottandu'
from
receiving
an
award.
Vinayan
also
released
audio
clips
featuring
jury
members
Nemom
Pushparaj
and
Jency
Gregory
expressing
concerns
about
Ranjith's
influence
over
the
award
decision.
Vinayan
submitted
these
audio
clips
as
supporting
evidence
along
with
his
complaint.
Concurrently,
the
Movement
for
Independent
Cinema
(MIC)
has
voiced
the
opinion
that
Ranjith
is
not
suitable
for
the
role
of
Chairman
of
the
Kerala
State
Chalachitra
Academy,
considering
his
alleged
interference
in
the
state
film
awards
process
for
two
consecutive
years.
MIC
contends
that
in
the
previous
year,
films
rejected
by
the
preliminary
jury
were
reconsidered
and
awarded,
suggesting
favoritism.
This
year,
it's
been
claimed
that
the
jury
was
influenced
to
withhold
awards
for
certain
films.
MIC
is
an
organisation
that
has
legally
contested
the
presence
of
the
Academy
Secretary
on
the
jury
panel
as
the
Member
Secretary.
According
to
MIC
office-bearers,
the
presence
of
the
member
secretary
on
the
jury
could
lead
to
manipulation.
Defending
The
Decision:
Jury
Chairman
Addresses
Allegations
And
Process
Yesterday,
Goutam
Ghose,
the
Jury
Chairman
for
the
Kerala
State
Film
Awards
2023,
dismissed
allegations
that
Kerala
Chalachitra
Academy
Chairman
Ranjith
played
a
role
in
determining
the
State
Film
Awards
recipients.
During
an
interview
with
Asianet
News,
Goutam
Ghose
emphasised
that
external
influences
had
no
bearing
on
the
award
decisions,
which
were
entirely
the
prerogative
of
the
jury.
He
also
clarified
that
he
was
unaware
of
the
circumstances
surrounding
the
audio
clips
released
by
director
Vinayan.
Goutam
Ghose
further
informed
Asianet
News
that
while
numerous
opinions
were
voiced
at
different
stages
of
the
award
selection
process,
the
final
verdict
was
unanimously
reached
by
the
jury.