Saji Cherian defends jury’s decision on omission of children’s category at Kerala State Film Awards
He clarified that while there were four films in the running for the category, only two remained in the final selection, but the jury felt they lacked the necessary creative elements to justify an award.
He clarified that while there were four films in the running for the category, only two remained in the final selection, but the jury felt they lacked the necessary creative elements to justify an award.
He clarified that while there were four films in the running for the category, only two remained in the final selection, but the jury felt they lacked the necessary creative elements to justify an award.
On Tuesday, Minister for Films and Culture Saji Cherian defended the jury's decision not to award any film in the Children’s category at this year’s Kerala State Film Awards, amidst criticism surrounding the exclusion of films like 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan,' 'School Chale Hum.'
Saji claimed he had personally spoken with the jury about the omission and assured that further discussions would be held once he returned to Thiruvananthapuram. He clarified that while there were four films in the running for the category, only two remained in the final selection, but the jury felt they lacked the necessary creative elements to justify an award.
"Out of the 128 films submitted, only about 10 percent were deemed to meet the required quality standards," Cherian told the media in Thrissur. "The jury has recommended that the government take active steps to promote children’s films, and we will certainly work in that direction. The panel expressed concerns about the declining quality of children's cinema, and we will do everything we can to revive and support this important segment."
Deva Nandha, a popular child artist known for her role in Malikappuram, also expressed her disappointment on social media, emphasizing that children, as integral members of society, deserve recognition for their contributions to cinema. In her post, she shared a video of jury chairperson and actor Prakash Raj explaining the rationale behind the jury’s decision, while questioning the reasoning for the omission.
“It’s not right to deny awards and then suggest that more children’s films should be made,” Deva Nandha wrote. “Films like Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, Gu, Phoenix, and A.R.M. featured powerful performances by children. To overlook them and then call for more children’s cinema is simply unfair."
In her post, Nandha urged authorities to recognise and appreciate the valuable contributions of children in film. “You can look away from us, but don't say there’s darkness all around,” she said, reflecting the frustration shared by many in the film industry who believe the omission contradicts Kerala’s long-standing commitment to inclusivity in its awards.