The 2024 Kerala State Film Awards sparked controversy after jury chairman Prakash Raj announced that no winners would be declared in the children's film and actor categories. Despite six films being submitted, the jury determined none met the required standards. Child actor Deva Nandha publicly criticized this decision on Instagram, arguing that denying awards to children discourages young talent rather than inspiring more quality children's cinema. She cited several 2024 films featuring strong child performances, including Gu, Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, Phoenix, and ARM. Filmmaker Vinesh Viswanath and actor Anand Manmadhan also expressed disappointment on social media. Prakash Raj defended the decision, stating that merely casting children does not create genuine children's cinema. He emphasized that filmmakers must understand and portray children's perspectives authentically. The announcement has drawn significant criticism online, with many questioning whether the jury's approach will truly benefit young performers and children's filmmaking in the industry.
Child Actor Criticizes Jury Decision on Social Media
Deva Nandha, a child actor whose Instagram is managed by her parents, posted a video clip of Prakash Raj discussing the children's categories at the press conference. The post included scenes from the 2024 film Gu, directed by Manu Radhakrishnan, in which she starred alongside Saiju Kurup. She wrote that denying awards to children will not encourage better children's films. Instead, recognizing young talent would inspire many others. Deva argued that the jury closed its eyes to the upcoming generation and overlooked children's rights in society. She expressed strong resentment toward the decision, stating that reforms should protect rights rather than deny them. Her post received support from filmmaker Vinesh Viswanath and actor Anand Manmadhan, who also voiced their frustration publicly.
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