13 January,2009 07:06 AM IST | | Prabhudev M
Groundbreaking film: Aa Dinagalu deals with a subject like the underworld without overdoing the violence
Agni Sridhar believes his film was cheated of top honours, and calls award-winning director names
Movie producers Agni Sridhar and K Manju, who yesterday turned down state awards alleging partisan judging, said they had nothing but contempt for the winners and the jury.
Sridhar produced the understated gangster flick Aa Dinagalu, and Manju is the maker of Mathad Mathad Mallige, a film that presented the evacuees' view of special economic zones. They are upset the best film award went to Gulabi Talkies, directed by Girish Kasaravalli
Open challenge
K Manju insisted that his film deserved the Best Film award. "I'm completely disappointed with the awards and the committee. Kesari Haravu has been made chairperson of the committee. Who is he? What does he know about cinema? He has made only one movie, which was a disastrous flop in every sense. Barring one or two members, all others are inexperienced and are unfit to be part of the jury," lashed out Manju.
"My film dealt with vital issues such as liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. It had a strong social message. The audience and the critics say it was a well-made film. I have arranged a special screening of Mathad Mathad Mallige tomorrow (Tuesday) for litterateurs, industrialists, film personalities and progressive thinkers. Let them watch the film and give me their verdict. I refuse to go by the verdict of people who know nothing of filmmaking. If I were in Kasaravalli's place, I would have rejected the award for Best Film (Gulabi Talkies) and encouraged young and enthusiastic filmmakers," he added.
Kasaravalli under fire
Agni Sridhar also flayed the committee and questioned the selection process. "They say that films like Moggina Jade were made with minimum budget but had maximum impact on the audience, but who has seen the film?
How can they talk about impact when such is the case? I am annoyed and I do not want to accept the award."
Sridhar observed that Aa Dinagalu was a groundbreaking film, which dealt with a subject like the underworld in a lyrical manner without melodrama or blood and gore.u00a0
Training his guns on Girish Kasaravalli, Sridhar said, "You just can't make films for the sake of awards and with the same formula. Filmmaking is not mathematics. Girish Kasaravalli is the item number of the awards world.
Whenever there is an award, you can be sure that Kasaravalli's name will not be missing from the list. Take for example the three top actressesu00e2u0080u0094Jayamala, Soundarya and Tarau00e2u0080u0094who bagged state awards. All the three produced art cinema and Kasaravalli was their auteur. They were very sure that their films would win state awards as Kasaravalli had made them. Such popular actors turn to directors like Kasaravalli when they need some cosmetic value. On the whole, the entire affair is nauseating to the core."
Critics' take
A section of film critics has also strongly criticised the selection of the films. Film journalist Ganesh Kasaragodu said, "Soon after the awards were announced, I sent an SMS to the chairperson of the committee, who happens to be a good friend of mine, saying, 'Very very bad and very very sad. Selection committee ko goli maar'. Agni Sridhar has called Kasaravalli's filmu00a0 Lobby Talkies. He was absolutely right. I think this sums up my take on the state awards."
"Kasaravalli's cupboard is overflowing with awards. It's time he gave others a chance. He is no doubt a great director and an asset to the Kannada film industry but it is also his duty to nurture young talent. Many good directors have emerged from the schools of Puttanna Kanagal, Manirathnam and Balachander. Can you name anyone from Kasaravalli's team who has made it big?" he asked.
u00a0Film analyst R G Vijayasarathy said controversies and film awards went hand in hand. "The composition of the jury is the major flaw. I heard that many of jury members did not watch the nominated films. This is ridiculous.
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The jury must do their homework. The jury's lack of experience was clearly evident," he remarked.
"A film like Moggina Jade does not even deserve to make it to the list. It was difficult for us to sit through the film. That such a film was ranked better than Mathad Mathad Mallige is laughable," he said.
