'Aadujeevitham' director Blessy addresses Kerala State Film Awards controversy
What's the story
Blessy, the director of the acclaimed Malayalam film Aadujeevitham, has responded to criticism regarding the movie's recognition at the Kerala State Film Awards 2024.
The film, which won nine awards including Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Popular Film, faced backlash as it was primarily released in theaters in March 2024.
Blessy addressed this controversy in a recent interview with Manorama News.
Details
Blessy acknowledged criticism, expressed disappointment over AR Rahman's omission
Blessy acknowledged the validity of the criticism, stating that Aadujeevitham indeed had its major theatrical release in March 2024.
He added that he would not object if the jury decided to withdraw the award and choose a different film for the category.
However, Blessy expressed disappointment over the exclusion of music composer AR Rahman from the Kerala State Film Awards 2024.
Quote
'Music was the heart of the film'
Blessy highlighted the importance of Rahman's music in Aadujeevitham.
"The music was the heart of the film, deeply woven into the entire scripting process. We chose A.R. Rahman because the music was a cornerstone of the movie."
The Oscar winner not getting a nod upset the filmmaker.
Awards
'Aadujeevitham' shines at 54th Kerala State Film Awards
The 54th Kerala State Film Awards, announced on August 16, honored several films and artists for their exceptional contributions to Malayalam cinema.
Aadujeevitham emerged as a major winner, with Prithviraj Sukumaran receiving the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Najeeb.
The film also won accolades in the technical category, with Sunil KS bagging the Best Cinematographer award and Resul Pookutty and Sarath Mohan winning the Best Sound Mixing award.
Film
'Aadujeevitham' tells a poignant tale of survival and struggle
Aadujeevitham, based on Benyamin's novel, is a moving survival drama that has garnered significant attention in the Malayalam film industry.
The film follows the story of Najeeb, who leaves Kerala for Saudi Arabia in search of a better life, only to be trapped in a brutal reality of forced labor.
The film also stars actress Amala Paul as Najeeb's wife.