The winners of the 70th National Film Awards were declared on 16 August.
Published Aug 18, 2024 | 11:43 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 18, 2024 | 11:43 PM
Mammootty. (X)
The 70th National Film Awards were announced on 16 August, and Mammootty’s fans were disappointed as neither the actor nor his acclaimed films received any awards.
However, MB Padmakumar, a jury member and filmmaker, revealed that no Mammootty film was submitted for consideration this year.
Padmakumar addressed social media allegations suggesting that Mammootty would not receive recognition under the current BJP-led Union government.
There were also rumours of intense competition between Mammootty and Rishab Shetty for the Best Actor award. Shetty ultimately won the award for his performance in the Kannada folk action thriller, Kantara (2022).
Padmakumar stated that Lijo Jose Pellissery’s 2022 drama, Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam, featuring Mammootty, was a strong contender but was not submitted.
He told Manorama Online, “The truth is that not a single film starring Mammootty was submitted for consideration. People quickly blame the government, but the issue lies in the submission process.”
Padmakumar expressed frustration at the negative narrative surrounding this issue, noting that failing to submit such a notable film was a major oversight, affecting both Mammootty and Malayalam cinema.
Mammootty had previously won the Best Actor award at the Kerala Film Awards 2022 for Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam and received acclaim for his roles in other 2022 films like Puzhu and Rorschach.
George S, the executive producer at Mammootty Kampany, could not be reached for comment on whether Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam or any other films were submitted, according to The Hindu.
The Best Feature Film award went to the Malayalam drama, Aattam. Rishab Shetty won Best Actor, Nithya Menen and Manasi Parekh shared Best Actress, and Manoj Bajpayee received a special mention for Gulmohar. Winners of the Best Feature Film category will receive ₹3 lakh each and a medal, while the Best Actor and Actress will receive ₹2 lakh and a medal, and Manoj Bajpayee will receive a certificate.
(Edited by S Subhakeerthana)
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