KOTTAYAM: Jayaraj, who directed ‘Ottal’ that bagged the ‘Suvarna Chakoram’ (Golden Crow Pheasant) in the international film festival this year, said his aim is to make a timeless movie.
“To make an ageless movie is my aim,” he said when the district honoured him and his crew of ‘Ottal’ on Wednesday. “I was hurt when the national jury selected ‘Ottal’ as the best movie on environment protection. Then I thought if there is truth in my movie, awards would come in its way,” he said, adding that he began shooting ‘Ottal’ without a penny in his pocket.
Jayaraj, who completed 25 years in the Malayalam film industry, was presented with 25 roses by members of Balasangham on the occasion.
Inaugurating the felicitation programme, organised under the aegis of the Navalokam cultural centre and Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, Justice K T Thomas lauded Jayaraj for taking Malayalam movies to great heights.
The actors in the movie ‘Ottal’--Kumarakom Vasudevan, child artist Ashanth K Shanu and Sabitha, also wife of Jayaraj, who got special jury mention for their performance, were also felicitated during the programme which was presided over by Navalokam president V N Vasavan. NCP state president Uzhavoor Vijayan and Darshana Cultural Centre director Fr Thomas Puthussery were among those present on the occasion.During the programme, the prepublication inauguration of the complete works of P J Antony published by SPCS was also held.