Kochi: Today, the High Court will consider the petition seeking cancellation of the announcement of the 2022 State Film Awards. Justice Basant Balaji will hear the plea. The petitioner is Lijeesh Mullezhat, director of the film ‘Akashat khutya’.
It is alleged in the petition that there is nepotism in the decision of the award and that the chairman of the film academy, Ranjith, illegally interfered with the jury members. It is pointed out in the petition that there is evidence for this. It is also demanded that the announcement of State Film Awards 2022 should be cancelled. The petition also points to the audio conversation of Nemam Pushparaj released by director Vinayan as evidence.
Nemam Pushparaj’s phone conversation has come out earlier in which Ranjith told the final jury not to bother the final jury by choosing trashy films like ‘Patham Nath Saandha’. It is revealed in the phone conversation between Nemam Pushparaj and director Vinayan that Ranjith tried to delete the three awards received for the film. Jury members including Gautam Ghosh who decided to give the awards and went to the room said that they will come back and discuss again. Nemam Pushparaj alleged that this was due to Ranjith’s intervention.
It is also said in the phone conversation that the Culture Department informed the minister’s office earlier. Ranjith is not yet ready to respond to the controversy even when the jury members are continuously coming forward.
Summary: The Kerala High Court will consider the petition seeking cancellation of the announcement of the 2022 State Film Awards today
