You won’t believe what child artiste Devanandha Jibin said for Prakash Raj, ‘It’s all dark…’

Kerala State Film Awards spark controversy over decision to not present awards for children's categories, with criticism directed at jury head Prakash Raj, sparking debate in the film industry.

The 55th Kerala State Film Awards have sparked a heated debate in the Malayalam film industry. A recent decision made by the jury, led by veteran actor Prakash Raj, has drawn sharp criticism from child artists and filmmakers.

What is the controversy?

The controversy began when the jury decided not to present awards for Best Children’s Film and Best Child Artist, citing a lack of quality submissions. Prakash Raj explained that none of the films submitted presented a child’s perspective or featured child actors who spoke and behaved like their real age. Child actor Devanandha Jibin, known for her performances in films like Malikappuram and Gu, strongly criticized the jury’s decision on social media.

Devanandha Jibin said, “You can close your eyes to kids, but don’t say that it’s all dark here… It’s not by denying awards to two children that one should try to say more children’s films should be made. If you had given awards to two children, it would have become an inspiration for many others.” Devanandha also expressed her strong resentment towards the jury chairman, Prakash Raj, for overlooking children’s rights despite acknowledging that children should have more opportunities.

She argued that several films, including Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, Gu, Phoenix, and ARM, featured notable children’s performances and deserved recognition. She emphasized that denying awards to child actors would not encourage the creation of more children’s films. Instead, it would discourage young talent and overlook their contributions to the film industry.

What are the reactions of film community on this?

The decision has sparked a row in the Malayalam film industry, with many filmmakers and actors expressing their disappointment. Filmmaker Vinesh Viswanath, director of Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, and actor Anand Manmadhan also voiced their frustration over the jury’s decision. Sreekanth E.G., director of School Chale Hum, criticized the jury for overlooking their film despite featuring child actors.

The appropriate action

In response to the controversy, Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian assured that the government would intervene to promote quality children’s cinema. He announced that a meeting would be held with industry stakeholders to discuss the issue and ensure that children’s awards are included in future film awards.

Story Highlights

1. The jury, led by Prakash Raj, decided not to present awards for Best Children’s Film and Best Child Artist, sparking criticism from child artistes and filmmakers.
2. The jury cited a lack of quality submissions, stating that none of the films presented a child’s perspective or featured child actors who spoke and behaved like their real age.
3. Devanandha Jibin criticized the jury’s decision, arguing that children are an essential part of society and deserve recognition for their work in films.
4. The government has assured that it will intervene to promote quality children’s cinema and ensure that children’s awards are included in future film awards.

The Kerala State Film Awards controversy has sparked a heated debate about the recognition of children’s work in films.