Delayed TN State Film Awards: Too late to celebrate?

The state awards were last given in 2008, and despite the two chief ministers who ruled the state later — M Karunanidhi and the late J Jayalalithaa — being from the film fraternity, it is only now, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has finally announced the awards. 

“It was very unfortunate that there was so much delay in the awards despite people from the film industry ruling the roost. But then there has always been an inner politics within our politics. Awards are given based on whether the director, the actor, the producer of a movie have an affiliation for DMK or AIADMK. 

In fact, a major Tamil star told me after the awards were announced that despite his film being critically acclaimed and worthy of an award, he was not given one simply because the media house that brought the rights to the movie did not agree with that of the ruling party,” says R Parthiepan, actor-director and writer. 

He adds, “Many may pretend that they are happy for others. But I can’t do that. I am upset that my film Kathai Thiraikathai Vasan am Iyakkam did not receive any awards because I think it was worthy of one. I, like many in the industry, make films with borrowed money. 

These awards may not help us pay back those loans, but at least they will give us the energy to do more films. People who make movies for awards and those who are serious about films depend on the recognition these awards bring. But at least, they gave the awards out now” Lakshmi Menon, who won the 2012 Best Actress state award, echoes the feeling and adds, “The value of the award remains the same even though it has come after so many years. But then, I feel no excitement in winning the award. In fact, nobody has even called me from the industry to congratulate. I feel indifferent,” she explains. 

For lyricist Na Muthukumar too, who passed away in the August of 2016, the recognition came a little too late. He has won the Best Lyricist state award for three consecutive years — 2012 to 2014. Director Suseenthiran, while congratulating the winners of the state awards expressed regret that his films were not given their due. 

“None of my films have made it to the state award list. My film Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai won two National Awards and another film of mine, Naan Mahaan Alla , was critically acclaimed. So, I can’t understand how neither of these films made the list,” said the director. 

Meanwhile, many like Aishwarya Rajesh (2014 Best Actress Award winner), Arya (2013 Best Actor award winner) and Prabhu Solomon (2010 Best Director award winner), choose to focus on the fact that they did get an award instead of the delay in getting it.