Kerala Film Awards Spark Outrage Over Controversial Lyricist Honor

Controversy Surrounds Kerala State Film Awards

In Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala State Film Awards are under fire as screenwriter Didi Damodaran publicly condemned the decision to award rapper Vedan (Hiran Das Murali) the Best Lyricist title. She labeled this recognition as an 'injustice' and a 'betrayal' of the government's commitment to combat violence against women.

Currently, Vedan is out on bail following allegations of sexual assault, which has fueled Damodaran's outrage.

The controversy escalated further when the awards ceremony, held on Monday, did not recognize any films in the children's category, citing a lack of quality submissions.

In a pointed Facebook post, Damodaran expressed that honoring Vedan was a 'breach of trust' and called for an apology from the film jury to the women of Kerala.

She stated, 'This decision, although legally binding, has penned an unjust chapter in our film history. The jury owes an apology to women for this.'

Vedan received the award for his song 'Kuthantram (Sweat-Stitched Shirt)' from the film Manjummel Boys, with the jury praising the lyrics for their authentic portrayal of marginalized experiences.

However, Damodaran contended that artistic value cannot be divorced from ethical accountability.

'While the phrase 'Sweat-Stitched Shirt' may resonate, the award is stained by the suffering of the victims. No accolades can erase that mark,' she asserted.

Her comments also referenced previous allegations against Vedan that circulated on social media, despite no formal actions being taken.

Women's organizations have echoed Damodaran's concerns, questioning the decision to honor Vedan, especially in light of the government's earlier commitments to uphold a zero-tolerance policy towards offenders in cases involving women.

Damodaran emphasized that awarding Vedan undermines these promises, stating, 'This is a betrayal of trust following the government's assurances at the Film Conclave that offenders would not be shielded.'