Awards don’t bother me, only audience love matters, says Vijayaraghavan
The actor, who competed in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in 'Kishkindha Kaandam', had earlier won the National Award and the Kerala State Award for Best Character Actor for his role in 'Pookkaalam' in 2023.
The actor, who competed in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in 'Kishkindha Kaandam', had earlier won the National Award and the Kerala State Award for Best Character Actor for his role in 'Pookkaalam' in 2023.
The actor, who competed in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in 'Kishkindha Kaandam', had earlier won the National Award and the Kerala State Award for Best Character Actor for his role in 'Pookkaalam' in 2023.
Veteran actor Vijayaraghavan said he was not disappointed about missing out on an award at the 55th Kerala State Film Awards, stressing that recognition or the lack of it has never influenced his career. “I’ve been in the industry for over 40 years. If I were to get disappointed every time I didn’t win an award, I would have stopped acting long ago,” Vijayaraghavan told Onmanorama.
“It’s not just Kishkindha Kaandam — there are several films where I’ve given strong performances. For instance, Leela remains one of my favourites. Not winning doesn’t bother me at all. What truly matters is staying in the industry and continuing to receive the audience’s love and support,” he added.
The actor, who competed in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in 'Kishkindha Kaandam', had earlier won the National Award and the Kerala State Award for Best Character Actor for his role in 'Pookkaalam' in 2023. His character, Ichappan, was portrayed as a 100-year-old man in Ganesh Raj’s family entertainer 'Pookkaalam'.
When asked whether he expected an award this year, Vijayaraghavan said, “I never expect any kind of award. Even when I received the National Award or the State Award earlier, I hadn’t anticipated them. During the early days of my career, I used to expect awards, but over time, when they didn’t come, I learnt not to. It doesn’t affect me anymore.”
In 'Kishkindha Kaandam', directed by Dinjith Ayyathan, Vijayaraghavan shines in his portrayal of a 70-year-old man who is curt and fiercely independent. His performance in the film is deeply nuanced, marked by subtle yet powerful expressions.
On Monday, jury chairman Prakash Raj clarified that while Vijayaraghavan delivered a commendable performance in Kishkindha Kaandam, actors Siddharth Bharathan and Soubin Shahir were chosen because their roles were more demanding.
“Vijayaraghavan was brilliant in Kishkindha Kaandam. But Siddharth and Soubin carried larger, more complex roles. That doesn’t make Vijayaraghavan’s performance any lesser,” said Prakash Raj. “Awards are a recognition of the films released that year. It doesn’t mean the winner is always the best — it simply reflects that year’s excellence. Both Siddharth and Soubin were wonderful, and that’s as simple as it is,” he added.