Film awards: an eternal wait

By Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

The state government has finally made arrangements to present Karnataka State Film Awards for the year 2017, after a gap of five years, at Ravindra Kalakshetra on Saturday. However, not many people, including movie buffs and award winners, have any reason to celebrate.

It is a known fact that Karnataka State Film Awards and controversies go hand in hand. It may not be an exaggeration to say that filing a petition in a court has become a habit or routine for a few directors and producers whose movies were not chosen for the awards.

“At last the state government has decided to organise a function to present Karnataka State Film Awards. I am of the opinion that five years was too much for any artiste to wait for receiving the award. I want the state government to complete the formalities of selection and presentation of awards on a yearly basis. It will be an encouragement for the awardees to put up more efforts to act in good movies,” said Tara Anuradha, who won the best actress award for her performance in Kannada movie Hebet Ramakka.

The awards committee headed by director N.S. Shankar submitted the list of award winners to the then Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. The awards committee selected Shuddhi as the first best movie for the year 2017. The movie Shuddhi, helmed by Adarsh Eshwarappa, is about the crimes against women.

March 22, directed by Kodlu Ramakrishna was adjudged as the second best movie which emphasizes the importance of unity, communal harmony. “I am happy to receive the award for March 22. The Information and Public Relations Department has informed me that an award for my other movie Manasa for the year 2010 will be presented to me at the venue. So, I am receiving two awards,” said Kodlu Ramakrishna.

Tulu movie Paddyi, directed by Abhaya Simha was chosen as the third best movie. It is a modern day adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It is about a newly-married couple who crave for a better life. Kannada movie Hebbet Ramakka was adjudged as the best social impact movie.

“My movie Hebbet Ramakka bagged the best Kannada film award at 65th National Film Awards in April 2018. The movie Shuddhi which is adjudged as the best movie by the awards committee constituted by Karnataka State Government did not get any award at the 65th National Film Awards. I would have been happy if my movie Hebbet Ramakka was considered as the first, second or third best movie by the State Awards Committee,” said director N.R. Nanjunde Gowda.

Veteran actress Lakshmi won Dr Rajkumar Award while director-cum-actor S Narayan won Puttanna Kanagal Award and G N Lakshmipathi won Dr Vishnuvardhan Award.

Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar’s movie Rajakumara won the best popular movie award while Eleyaru Naavu Geleyaru won the best children’s movie award. The Konkani language movie Sophia is the best regional movie. Manjunath Hegde and Rekha will be presented with best supporting awards.

The other award winners are: Hanunth B Haligeri and Amaresha Sugadone (best story), Venkat Bharadwaj (best screenplay), Prof. S G Siddaramaiah (best dialogues), Santosh Rai Pathaji (best cinematographer), V Harikrishna (best music director), Harish Komme (best editing), Master Karthik and Shlaga Saligrama (best child artistes), Ravi SA (best art director), J M Prahlad (best lyricist), Tejasvi Haridas and Apoorva Sridhar (best playback singers).

Meanwhile, DR Jairaj, president, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has opined that the state government would make it mandatory for all applicants to adhere to the decision taken by the awards committee. “I want the government to select prominent personalities as jury members of the awards committee to avoid controversy,” said Jairaj.