Urvashi on National Awards selection process: Can't accept it silently like pension
She demanded transparency in award selection criteria
The actor shared Best Supporting Actress with Janki Bodiwala
Veteran actor Urvashi, who recently shared the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the film 'Ullozhukku', has expressed her dissatisfaction with the decision-making process of the National Film Awards jury. Speaking candidly to a regional channel, Urvashi emphasised the need for transparency and clarity regarding the criteria used to determine award recipients, pointing out the lack of consistency and clear standards in the selection process.
Urvashi, in an interview with Manorama News , questioned the rationale behind the distribution of awards, stating, "This is not pension money to be silently accepted," and asked, "How are these decisions made? What criteria are followed?" She stressed the importance of having an award that one could be proud of, rather than receiving it without understanding the selection criteria.
Despite the controversy, Urvashi maintained that she had no regrets about her career choices, adding, "I am not sad about it. I was selected for a good film, it did well, and the audience accepted it." However, she remains curious about the basis on which awards are determined, highlighting the need for a transparent and accountable system.
Urvashi further questioned the selection process, asking, "But I do wonder - what is the basis on which a National Award is given? Is there a measuring scale for it? Who decides what qualifies as the best performance to select the Best Actor or Best Actress? The Centre and the State should be transparent about this. They have a responsibility to let us know on what grounds these awards are decided."
She also recounted experiences with similar issues, remembering a time when she received a Best Supporting Actress award for her role in 'Achuvinte Amma', a decision openly criticised by the late actress Saroja Devi. Urvashi stated, "I never canvassed or lobbied, I just did meaningful cinema," underscoring her commitment to her craft rather than the pursuit of accolades.
Urvashi's comments are part of a larger discourse on the criteria for acting awards: "Is there any standard scale for acting? Or is it that after a certain age, this is all you'll get?"
The awards this year also saw Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey sharing the Best Actor award, while Rani Mukerji was named Best Actress. Urvashi and Janki Bodiwala shared the Best Supporting Actress award for 'Ullozhukku' and 'Vash', respectively, indicating a recurring pattern of shared recognitions which Urvashi has questioned.
Urvashi appealed to Minister of State for Culture and actor Suresh Gopi to investigate the process and advocate for Malayalam cinema's place in the national honours.
Veteran actor Urvashi, who recently shared the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the film 'Ullozhukku', has expressed her dissatisfaction with the decision-making process of the National Film Awards jury. Speaking candidly to a regional channel, Urvashi emphasised the need for transparency and clarity regarding the criteria used to determine award recipients, pointing out the lack of consistency and clear standards in the selection process.
Urvashi, in an interview with Manorama News , questioned the rationale behind the distribution of awards, stating, "This is not pension money to be silently accepted," and asked, "How are these decisions made? What criteria are followed?" She stressed the importance of having an award that one could be proud of, rather than receiving it without understanding the selection criteria.
Despite the controversy, Urvashi maintained that she had no regrets about her career choices, adding, "I am not sad about it. I was selected for a good film, it did well, and the audience accepted it." However, she remains curious about the basis on which awards are determined, highlighting the need for a transparent and accountable system.
Urvashi further questioned the selection process, asking, "But I do wonder - what is the basis on which a National Award is given? Is there a measuring scale for it? Who decides what qualifies as the best performance to select the Best Actor or Best Actress? The Centre and the State should be transparent about this. They have a responsibility to let us know on what grounds these awards are decided."
She also recounted experiences with similar issues, remembering a time when she received a Best Supporting Actress award for her role in 'Achuvinte Amma', a decision openly criticised by the late actress Saroja Devi. Urvashi stated, "I never canvassed or lobbied, I just did meaningful cinema," underscoring her commitment to her craft rather than the pursuit of accolades.
Urvashi's comments are part of a larger discourse on the criteria for acting awards: "Is there any standard scale for acting? Or is it that after a certain age, this is all you'll get?"
The awards this year also saw Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey sharing the Best Actor award, while Rani Mukerji was named Best Actress. Urvashi and Janki Bodiwala shared the Best Supporting Actress award for 'Ullozhukku' and 'Vash', respectively, indicating a recurring pattern of shared recognitions which Urvashi has questioned.
Urvashi appealed to Minister of State for Culture and actor Suresh Gopi to investigate the process and advocate for Malayalam cinema's place in the national honours. Join our WhatsApp Channel
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