The announcement of the 71st National Film Awards has shook mixed sentiments in Kerala, as cinema lovers celebrate some win, as well as question the glowing lapse. Director Ashirwad’s acclaimed survival drama ‘Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life’, who had previously won a major victory at the Kerala State Film Awards, was completely ignored at the national level, a step that has left the filmmaker. ,
While the state Urvashi and Vijayarghvan rejoiced to win the best actor award, the debate intensified online why their powerful performances were not considered for lead categories. However, the entire omission of ‘Aadujeevitham’ and its prominent actor Prithviraj Sukumaran has deeply criticized – especially since the story of Kerala, a film with controversy and important paning was honored.
Ashirwad calls ‘double standards’ in the judgment of the jury
Reacting to Snow, Bless opened in an interview with Onmonorama, expressing disbelief over the jury’s argument. “I heard the jury chairperson and heard that the film was denied the awards due to technical shortcomings. But I remember he was deeply appreciated by the film during our conversation,” Blace recalled.
He further revealed that the National Awards Jury Chairperson Ashutosh Gowariker had earlier praised Audujivitha with the enthusiasm of Audujivitha during the Oscar campaign screening in Mumbai. “We spoke in length, and he highly praised the film,” said blessing.
‘Like Arab Lawrence, this comment felt like an award’
Ashirwad said that Gowarikar had also compared the film to David Lean’s cinematic classic ‘Lawrence of Arabs’, saying that he had not seen the desert painted so beautifully. He said, “This comment itself felt like an award,” he said Gauvikar had invited for lunch the next day to continue the conversation. “If someone first appreciated the film in this way, how can they now dismiss it on technical grounds? It sounds like double standards,” Blace said.
Jury members disagree: ‘Performance did not feel authentic’
Pradeep Nair, a filmmaker and a member of the 11-person Central Jury, offered a separate perspective. He told that Ashutosh Gowariker had seen ‘Aadjeevithi’ at a film festival in Goa and made reservation about adaptation. “Gauvikar and others also realized that adaptation lacked naturalness and the performance was not authentic,” Nair said.
At the 54th Kerala State Film Awards, ‘Aadujeevitham’ adopted nine honors, which included the best director for blessings and the best actor for Prithviraj Sukumaran – even more surprising at the national level for many fans and internal sources of the industry.
