The 71st National Film Awards stirred controversy after Friday night’s announcement as Sudipto Sen directorial, The Kerala Story, took home two awards, including Best Direction and Best Cinematography.
The recognition of the film—labelled as a propaganda piece—brought to light other titles that were deemed more deserving. One notable omission was Blessy’s Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life).
ALSO READ | 71st National Film Awards: 'Kerala Story' wins twice, despite controversy around its release
The snub came as a shock to all, as the film had been praised for its depiction of a true story set against the desert dunes. Leading man Prithviraj was widely applauded for his performance and for enduring the physical restraints to represent a perished man on the dry land.
Reacting to the National Award debacle, Blessy said he was taken aback by the reasoning given by Jury Chairperson Ashutosh Gowariker. “I heard the jury chairperson mention that the film was denied awards due to technical shortcomings. But I remember him appreciating the film deeply during our conversations,” the filmmaker said.
ALSO READ | 'Aadujeevitham' review: Behold, a classic
Blessy pointed out an earlier interaction with Gowariker, where he praised the film. “When we held a premiere in Mumbai as part of our Oscar campaign, I had reached out to him. We spoke at length, and he praised the film highly,” adding that Gowariker had compared Aadujeevitham to David Lean’s 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia.
“That comment felt like an award in itself,” Blessy said. “He even invited me to lunch the next day to discuss the film further, though I couldn’t attend as I had to travel that night.”
ALSO READ | 'Prithviraj's commitment gave 'Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life' an unparalleled depth': Blessy, Benyamin
Blessy questioned how a film that was praised by the jury itself could be dismissed on “technical grounds”. “This seems like double standards,” he said.
In a statement to the publication, jury member Pradeep Nair explained that Aadujeevitham was considered in several categories but ultimately fell short. “Ashutosh Gowariker had seen the film earlier and expressed serious concerns about its adaptation and execution. He, along with others, felt the storytelling lacked authenticity and the performances didn’t come across as natural,” Nair said.
