Telugu people celebrate when Telugu films win National Awards in various categories. However, the same level of celebration isn't seen among the rest of the South Indian states.
Tamil audiences express a significant grievance over "Jai Bhim" being overlooked in all categories. Many believe that the film deserved the Best Film award for National Integration, a recognition that went to "The Kashmir Files" instead.
It's indeed surprising to witness 'The Kashmir Files' a movie portraying a distressing incident that accentuated a psychological divide between two communities being honored for National Integrity. While political factors might be at play, sharing the award with "Jai Bhim" would have been a positive gesture.
"Jai Bhim" deeply moved those who watched it, focusing on the struggle against caste divisions. Films of this nature are essential for fostering greater understanding among individuals. The movie approaches the subject with compassion and concern for the oppressed based on caste.
Many Tamilians firmly believe that Suriya, who portrayed the genuine character of Advocate Chandru, was more deserving of the Best Actor award than Allu Arjun, who depicted a fictional smuggler.
Shifting to the realm of background music, Kannadigas strongly argue that "KGF" deserved the award. It's undeniable that the BGM elements from "KGF" were more widely shared on social media compared to those from "RRR."
The decision to award Keeravani for RRR's background score faced objections from Kannadigas, even though he secured an Oscar in a distinct category for "Original Song."
Bestowing the Best Lyricist award on Chandrabose was also met with criticism. The song from "Kondapolam," for which the award was given, wasn't as popular among music enthusiasts as the mother's song in "KGF."
Since Keeravaani and Chandrabose had received an Oscar Award, there seemed to be an obligation for the National Film Awards committee to acknowledge their work. This led to their recognition, even if the awards weren't directly related to the works that earned them the Oscar.
It's surprising that the highest-grossing 2022 Indian film, "KGF," was entirely overlooked by the National Awards Committee. Some social media posts suggest that the film might have been sidelined due to its portrayal of Indira Gandhi as a powerful leader.
On the flip side, there's speculation that initially, Ram Charan and Jr. NTR were considered for a joint National Award, similar to the sharing by Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon. However, the circumstances surrounding the award's announcement, ultimately given only to Allu Arjun, remain unclear.
DSP receiving the award for Best Music - Songs faced no objections from any industry, as every song he composed for "Pushpa" became a national hit across all languages.
The National Film Awards have been a source of controversy for several years. In contrast, the Padma awards have been streamlined without generating significant controversies. It begs the question - why can't the National Film Awards also be presented without raising controversies?
Usha Chowdhary
