KOCHI: Has the state film award jury missed recognising A R Rahman's brilliance in Aadujeevitham?
Blessy, whose survival drama that was released this year, had bagged eight awards including the Best Director for himself in the 54th Kerala State Film Awards announced on Friday, certainly thinks so.
"I felt Rahman should have won the state award for his work in the film—the song and the background score. The song 'Periyone' was a hit and was accepted and appreciated globally. I saw videos of children in relief camps after the Wayanad landslides singing the song and even sent it to him. We expected him to win a state award today for the film," Blessy told The New Indian Express. He added that the jury failed to recognise the legend.
However, coincidentally the 57-year-old was chosen as the best music composer in the 70th National Film Awards announced in Delhi later in the day. He won the award for Best Music Director (Background Score) for his work in Ponniyin Selvan Part One, directed by Mani Ratnam.
"He won a national award today itself for Ponniyin Selvan. Not being selected for the Kerala State Award might not be a big deal for him. However, as a team, we wished him to win an award for Aadujeevitham," said Blessy. He further added that this is not a complaint but just him sharing his pain.
For Rahman, winner of Oscar and Grammy awards, this may not be a big miss. Meanwhile, Blessy expressed his happiness about the recognition of Aadujeevitham. This is the third state award that he has won for the direction category.
"I feel proud that the film which has a classic nature was accepted and appreciated by the audience worldwide, and it is now followed by eight awards as well as a special jury. I am also happy for Gokul, who played the role of Hakkim in the film. He is a debutante. I used to tell him that Prithviraj may win the best actor award and he could expect a special jury," shared the filmmaker.
"We won other awards, such as Best Makeup and more. It is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of everyone on the crew, and I am happy for Benyamin too," he added.
Aadujeevitham chronicles the struggles of a Malayali migrant worker forced into slavery in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.
The film took home around eight accolades (Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value, Best Screenplay [Adapted], Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Colourist) including a Special Jury.
This is Prithviraj's third win in the category after winning it previously in 2006 for Vasthavam, and in 2012 for Celluloid and Ayalum Njanum Thammil.
(With inputs from Online Desk)
