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Kerala State Film Awards 2023 Controversy: Minister Saji Cherian Supports Ranjith: A Gentleman & Legend
Kerala State Film Awards 2023 Controversy, Saji Cherian Backs Ranjith: The Minister of Culture Affairs, Saji Cherian, has stated that there will be no review of the Kerala State Film Award.
He emphasised that the award decisions are made by the jury, and the chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, Ranjith, had no role in interfering with the awards.
According to the minister, the deserving recipients received the awards, and there is no requirement for any investigation. He further remarked that accusations like this can be found in abundance in the country and cannot be taken seriously. If the complainants have concrete evidence, legal action should be pursued.
"Director Ranjith has absolutely no role in the award selection; he is not responsible for appointing the jury. The jury members are selected through a well-defined procedure, making it impossible for him to exert any influence. Ranjith is highly regarded as a gentleman and a true legend within Kerala's film industry. His remarkable chairmanship has led to the smooth and efficient functioning of the Film Academy over the years. The Film Academy stands as a paragon of elegance among institutions under the Department of Culture." Saji Cherian He also confirms that the award recipients were selected by an impartial jury.
Saji Cherian added that the jury comprised the most renowned members of world cinema. He questioned whether anyone could dispute the decision to present the Best Actor award to Mammootty. Awards were also bestowed upon those ranking just below the top recipient.
It is essential to understand that receiving a "full A+" does not exclusively define the best, as all the artists involved are highly skilled. The award was granted based on a meticulous assessment to identify the most deserving recipient, leaving no room for complaints. Saji Cherian refuted the current allegations, deeming them unfounded. He stressed that the responsibility lies with the Award Selection Committee, and if the complainants possess valid evidence, they can address the matter through legal channels.
Nemom Pushparaj Confirms Ranjith's Interference in Film Awards
Meanwhile, 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.
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.
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.
