'Films are made only to sell'

In a veiled attack on members of the National Film Awards jury who had resigned protesting against the committee's saffronisation, Malayalam director Adoor Gopalakrishnan said, "It is not fair to raise dissenting voices after the selection process."

"The members were party to most of the committee's decisions," he said. "It does not augur well for the institution of awards. Had there been differences of opinion about the constitution of the committee, they should have protested in the beginning. This is just an allegation they raised after finding they couldn't agree with the rest of the members on certain issues."

As for the committee's decisions, the maestro, a winner of many National Awards, said he could not comment on the winning films and personalities since he had not seen them. But he said, "Every film ought to fulfil certain criteria before it can qualify for the awards."

"The Indian film industry as a whole is passing through a crisis," he said. "It reflects the rot that has set into our social life. Quality has been forgotten. Films are made only to sell."

PTI

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The National Award Controversy