Although no award function passes off without its fair share of controversies, the 71st National Film Awards witnessed matters reaching another level, as even those who were named winners in various categories stepped forward expressing their dissatisfaction about certain decisions of the jury. While many felt that several performers were relegated to the Supporting Actor category, despite playing the lead roles in the movies they were considered for — seemingly to make way for the victory of stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji — a lot of voices also emerged condemning the awarding of Best Direction and Best Cinematography to the widely-panned controversial movie The Kerala Story.
Now, legendary actor Urvashi, who shared the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role with Gujarati performer Janki Bodiwala, has expressed her discontent over not being considered in the leading role category, despite playing an equally important character alongside co-star Parvathy Thiruvothu in their movie. While Urvashi won the award for director Christo Tomy’s Ullozhukku, Janki bagged the trophy for her portrayal in Krishnadev Yagnik’s Vash, which was remade in Hindi as Shaitaan (2024). She also wondered why actor Vijayaraghavan faced a similar fate, despite playing the central character in Pookkaalam alongside co-actor KPAC Leela.
Demanding to know the basis for such decisions, Urvashi questioned why the jury did not split the Best Actress award this time, despite having done so in the last two instances. She questioned during a chat with Asianet News, “Why do we have awards? On what basis are they given? That needs to be made clear, regardless of the category. If the approach is to give away awards as they see fit and expect us to accept them without question, that needs to change. If I don’t raise these questions now, what should the next generation of artistes expect? Once actor Rima Kallingal told me, ‘If this is what you (despite being a proven veteran actor) have to go through, just imagine how worse it would be for all of us.’” It may be mentioned here that her performance in Ullozhukku had earned Urvashi her sixth Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress.
Watch SCREEN’s exclusive interview with Urvashi here:
She also pointed out that the same issue persisted in the Best Actor category as well, with legendary Malayalam actor Vijayaraghavan not being considered for a leading role. Urvashi questioned what led the jury to deem Vijayaraghavan’s character and performance unworthy of lead recognition, while Shah Rukh Khan’s role in Jawan was considered eligible. “How did you distinguish between Vijayaraghavan’s and Shah Rukh Khan’s performances? How did one become a supporting actor and the other the best actor? On what criteria? We should raise such questions, as we too are taxpaying citizens. I was initially approached to play his pair in Pookkaalam. Still, I declined because the role required me to undergo a significant physical transformation, for which I would have had to be in the makeup chair for several hours. I told them, even if you pay me crores, I wouldn’t do it. But he, at his age, endured all of that and performed. That alone deserves at least a Special Mention,” she added.
‘This is not pension money that we should accept blindly’
Urvashi also expressed her complete bewilderment over director Blessy’s Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life, not even receiving a mere mention in any of the categories. “They said it was a majority decision. But what exactly does that mean? What is the basis? If we’re told the reasoning, we’ll be satisfied. It’s not about blaming anyone, but clarity is essential. This is not pension money that we should accept blindly. If the reason for the award is that my performance was inferior, then say so. Was Aadujeevitham not a good film? Why was Vijayaraghavan’s performance not even given a Special Jury Mention?”
She added, “Then a film like Aadujeevitham is not mentioned at all. Shouldn’t these things be questioned?” Urvashi shared that she had requested actor and Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi to look into the matter. Expressing her elation at having won the award, Urvashi also shared that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan, among many others, contacted her to congratulate her.
