Why ‘The Goat Life’ got nothing & ‘The Kerala Story’ took home two

India Today

While The Kerala Story bagged two national honours, Aadujeevitham — one of the most celebrated Malayalam films of the year — walked away with nothing.

Transcript

00:00One film swept awards, another, despite critical acclaim, walked away with nothing.

00:05And the internet isn't staying quiet.

00:07The 71st National Film Awards were announced in August 1,

00:09and the decisions have triggered intense debate across the country.

00:13At the heart of the outrage, two films,

00:15The Kerala Story, which won Best Direction and Best Cinematography,

00:19and Aadu Jeevitam, or The Goat Life, which won zero awards.

00:22Why the comparison?

00:23Directed by Blessie, Aadu Jeevitam is based on best-selling novel

00:27and tells the survival story of a Malayani migrant enslaved in Saudi Arabia.

00:31The film, censored in December 2023, was eligible for the 2023 awards.

00:36It was released in theatres on March 28, 2024,

00:39and was hailed as one of the most technically sound films of the year.

00:42From A.R. Rahman's music, K.S. Sunil's cinematography,

00:45to Shrikar Prasad's editing, Aadu Jeevitam was a visual feat.

00:49This decision sparked online backlash.

00:51Many questioned how Aadu Jeevitam was completely ignored

00:54despite sweeping the Kerala State Film Awards,

00:56including Best Actor and Best Film.

00:59It didn't help that only one Malayali was on the jury.

01:01Pradeep Nayar later revealed he objected to the Kerala story getting Best Direction.

01:05He said,

01:06As a Malayali, I raise strong objections.

01:08How can a film that defames an entire state win a national honour?

01:12Kerala Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan also criticized the decision

01:15without naming the film, saying it spreads blatant misinformation

01:18to tarnish Kerala's image and sow communal hatred.

01:21Kerala police added fuel with a cryptic Facebook post.

01:24Education Minister B. Sivan Kutti questioned how Aadu Jeevitam

01:28and, by extension, actor-director Prithviraj was overlooked.

01:31Students at FTII called the award for the Kerala story

01:34not just disappointing but dangerous,

01:36accusing the jury of normalizing Islamophobia

01:39and turning cinema into a tool for state propaganda.

01:41Released in 2023, the Kerala story follows women allegedly coerced into joining ISIS.

01:47The film's promo initially claimed thousands of women were trafficked,

01:50claims that were later discredited.

01:52After legal intervention, the filmmakers were forced to add disclaimers.

01:55The numbers were in trial and the film was fictionalized.

01:58While the film underperformed in Kerala and Tamil Nadu,

02:01it still made over 300 crores globally.

02:03Now, the National Film Awards controversy raises a bigger question.

02:07When critical acclaim, commercial success and cultural impact

02:10don't align with institutional recognition,

02:12what does that say about the institution?

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