Aadujeevitham National Award Snub: Ashutosh Gowariker Says THIS About Prithviraj Sukumaran's Performance
News18.com
Last Updated: August 03, 2025, 07:56 IST
Why did Prithviraj's Aadujeevitham lose out while The Kerala Story won Best Direction?
Prithviraj Sukumaran's much-anticipated survival drama Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) entered the 71st National Film Awards with high hopes and strong fan backing. But when the winners were announced, the film didn't pick up a single trophy — not even in categories where it was a clear favourite. Behind the scenes, it turns out there was division within the jury — and at the centre of it all was a film that many believe didn't deserve to win in the first place.
According to jury member and filmmaker Pradeep Nair, there were heated discussions around some of the major award decisions. The most debated pick was The Kerala Story, which walked away with Best Direction and Best Cinematography — honours that many believed should have gone to Aadujeevitham.
'As a Malayali on the panel, I raised serious objections. I questioned how a film that defames a state like Kerala and serves as propaganda could be considered for a national honour. I even conveyed my concerns directly to the jury chairperson," Nair said.
But he also admitted that he was outnumbered. 'I was the only one who labelled it as propaganda. Others argued that even if it was controversial, it tackled a relevant social issue." Why Aadujeevitham Didn't Win A National Award
Fans expected The Goat Life to make a strong sweep across categories — especially for its intense performances, stunning cinematography, and soundtrack. But jury chairperson Ashutosh Gowariker reportedly wasn't impressed.
'He had seen the movie at a previous film festival in Goa and had serious concerns about the film's adaptation and execution. Gowariker and others also felt the adaptation lacked naturality and the performances didn't feel authentic," Nair explained.
Even the film's acclaimed music didn't break through. Nominations for Best Lyrics and Best Male Playback Singer slipped away, reportedly due to a technical issue. The producers failed to submit a proper English translation of Rafeeq Ahammed's lyrics — a misstep that cost them critical points.
KR Gokul, who had been gaining praise for his breakout role in the film, was also left off the final winner list. Though the jury appreciated his performance, Nair revealed it wasn't enough. 'The overall quality of the films was also a significant factor in final decisions," he added.
While Aadujeevitham went home empty-handed, Ullozhukku took the spotlight as Best Malayalam Film. The jury agreed it was a complete package. Shreyanka Mazumdar
Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring... Read More
Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring... Read More view comments News movies » regional-cinema » Aadujeevitham National Award Snub: Ashutosh Gowariker Says THIS About Prithviraj Sukumaran's Performance Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Prabhas Dances to ‘Ek Niranjan' With Rana Daggubati In Throwback Baahubali BTS Clip; Anushka Shetty Joins In
Last Updated: Celebrate Friendship Day with a viral Baahubali BTS video featuring Prabhas dancing to Ek Niranjan with Rana Daggubati. Anushka Shetty also makes a special appearance. In a delightful blast from the past, a behind-the-scenes video from the sets of Baahubali has gone viral—and it's as heartwarming as it is hilarious. Shared on the official Instagram handle of the Baahubali franchise on August 3, 2025, to mark Friendship Day, the video features superstar Prabhas letting loose and dancing to the title track of his 2009 film Ek Niranjan. Wearing his royal Baahubali costume, Prabhas can be seen performing the iconic hook step of Ek Niranjan, while also singing along to the track with full gusto. His infectious energy, combined with a touch of goofiness, makes for a moment that fans are calling 'pure gold." Joining him in the clip is co-star Rana Daggubati, who is clearly enjoying the impromptu performance just as much. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baahubali (@baahubalimovie) Adding to the charm of the video, actress Anushka Shetty—dressed as Devasena—enters the frame, exchanging smiles and a few words with Prabhas, capturing the camaraderie that defined the making of this cinematic epic. The caption on the video reads, 'Every day on set felt like #FriendshipDay," perfectly encapsulating the bond shared by the cast. Directed by Puri Jagannadh, Ek Niranjan featured Prabhas opposite Kangana Ranaut, with Sonu Sood and the late Mukul Dev in supporting roles. Though not as monumental as Baahubali, the film remains a fan favorite, especially for its catchy soundtrack. As for the Baahubali franchise, helmed by SS Rajamouli, it stands tall as one of the most successful film series in Indian cinema. Prabhas took on the dual roles of Amarendra and Mahendra Baahubali, with Rana Daggubati playing the formidable antagonist Bhallaladeva, and Anushka Shetty as the fierce and graceful Devasena. The ensemble also included powerhouses like Ramya Krishnan and Sathyaraj. Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) changed the face of Indian cinema, with the latter holding the title of highest-grossing Indian film for years—until the arrival of Pushpa 2: The Rule. On the work front, Prabhas is now preparing for his upcoming release The RajaSaab, a romantic horror comedy set to hit theatres on December 5, 2025. First Published: August 03, 2025, 22:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Chiranjeevi meets CM Revanth Reddy
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Representational image (Image: News18) Hyderabad, Aug 3 (PTI) Telugu actor 'Superstar' Chiranjeevi met Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy here on Sunday. The meeting took place at CM's residence at Jubilee Hills here, an official release said. The meeting was described as a courtesy call. Chiranjeevi, who served as Union minister during the UPA regime, has been staying away from politics since a long time ago. PTI SJR SJR ADB Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Shah Rukh Khan Requests Wife Gauri To ‘Brag About Him At Dinner' After National Award Win
Last Updated: Shah Rukh Khan reacted to congratulatory messages from his wife Gauri Khan and daughter Suhana Khan after winning the National Film Award for his performance in Jawan. After an illustrious 33-year acting career, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan finally won his first-ever National Award. He has been honoured with the Best Actor award at the 71st National Film Awards for his performance in the 2023 film Jawan, directed by Atlee. Soon after the winners were announced, his wife Gauri Khan took to her social media to express her joy. In her post, she wrote that she's ready to proudly brag about SRK, Rani Mukerji, and Karan Johar forever. Now, Shah Rukh has reacted to his wife's post, humorously requesting her to brag about him at dinner. He also thanked her for producing Jawan. In her post, Gauri Khan congratulated Shah Rukh Khan, as well as Rani Mukerji and Karan Johar for their National Award win. Sharing pictures with them, she wrote, 'Three of my absolute favourites just WON big…and so did our hearts When talent meets goodness, magic happens – So proud, and so ready to brag about them forever!" Responding to his wife Gauri's post on X (formerly Twitter), SRK wrote, 'Please brag about me to me when we sit for dinner tonight… thanks for producing the film." Check out his post below! Please brag about me to me when we sit for dinner tonight… thanks for producing the film. — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 3, 2025 Shah Rukh Khan's Reply To Duaghter Suhana Khan Meanwhile, Suhana Khan congratulated her father, and shared a major throwback picture with him. She shared a heartwarming black-and-white photo on Instagram, where a younger Shah Rukh is seen carrying her in his arms. Alongside the image, she wrote, 'From bedtime stories to stories that leave a mark, no one tells them like you. Congratulations. Love you the most." Reacting to his daughter's post, Shah Rukh wrote, 'Thank you baby. Hope I can continue to entertain you with the bedtime stories… they don't seem to be working like they used to. Guess I'll just have to make do with my movies working then… ha ha." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Suhana Khan (@suhanakhan2) The winners of the 71st National Film Awards were announced on Friday. Shah Rukh Khan shared the Best Actor award with Vikrant Massey, who won for his role in the film 12th Fail. First Published: August 03, 2025, 21:46 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
