The 71st National Film Awards were announced on Friday evening, sparking a firestorm of debate online, especially over the selection of winners in certain categories. At the heart of the controversy is The Kerala Story, which took home honours for Best Direction and Best Cinematography. The film’s polarising nature has divided opinion, with many questioning its suitability for national recognition. Pradeep Nair, a jury member and filmmaker on the 11-member central panel for feature films, explained the rationale behind the decision during a conversation with Onmanorama. According to him, The Kerala Story was chosen for its “relevance” in addressing what the jury saw as a “major social issue in India.”
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Despite this, Nair himself was a vocal critic of the film’s inclusion. “As a Malayali on the panel, I raised serious objections. I questioned how a film that defames a state like Kerala and serves as propaganda could be considered for a national honour. I even conveyed my concerns directly to the jury chairperson,” he said. He noted, however, that his dissenting voice was isolated: “I was the only one who labelled it as propaganda. Others argued that even if it was controversial, it tackled a relevant social issue.”
Meanwhile, another notable contender, Blessy’s Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life), starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, was submitted for multiple awards but failed to secure any wins. Its absence from the winner’s list has left a bitter taste among fans and cinephiles alike. When asked about this, Nair revealed that Jury Chairperson Ashutosh Gowariker wasn’t entirely convinced.
“He had seen the movie at a previous film festival in Goa and had serious concerns about the film’s adaptation and execution. Gowariker and others also felt the adaptation lacked naturality and the performances didn’t feel authentic.” The film was also nominated for Best Male Playback Singer and Best Lyrics (for Rafeeq Ahammed’s “Periyone Rahmane”), but lost out partly because the producers did not submit a proper English translation of the lyrics. Among standout performances, KR Gokul’s character received praise for its freshness and impact. Yet, despite appreciation from the jury, the award eluded him as the overall quality of the films was also a significant factor in final decisions.
In contrast, Ullozhukku was lauded for its consistent excellence across all departments, which earned it the Best Malayalam Film award. Nair commented, “Every element of it, from writing to direction and technical execution, was appreciated, which is why it won Best Malayalam Film.” The film was also considered for Best Debut Director, Best Actress (Parvathy Thiruvothu), and its cinematography by Shehnad Jalal was in contention but ultimately lost out to The Kerala Story in the latter category.
