Every time the state film awards are announced, social media is the talk of the town. A section of the audience is saying that the films they were expecting did not get the awards. Like Roshak, Malikappuram and Thallumala, Vinayan’s 19th Century is a film that comes in such discussions. The film won three awards. The awards went to Best Dubbing Artist (Shoby Thilakan), Music Director (M Jayachandran) and Singer (Mridula Warrier). Director Vinayan has responded to an observation that the film should have been considered for many other awards, including art direction. Vinayan replied to book reviewer NE Sudheer’s Facebook post.
NE Sudhir’s note was as follows
Did our film award jury not see the film ‘Pathomvatham Santhali’? This was the main doubt that came to mind while reading the details of the state film award in the morning newspaper. Directed by Vinayan, the film ‘Pathumbathaam Sandhalam’ did not seem to have been considered in any important category. It seemed to be neglected in most sections. The ‘nineteenth century’ was one that was awe-inspiring in terms of technological excellence. How could the art direction, which was full of excellence in that film, be ignored even if it pretends not to see anything else? Why was it not evaluated as a socially important film? There are so many questions. Totally a bit of a mess. Director Vinayan will not be new in this. He is an artist who is destined to get used to all that. Even then, it will cause pain in moviegoers. The point is that even a film that beautifully told the story of a man called Velayudhapanikar who did not get his rightful place in the history of Kerala, his bad fate befell him.
Vinayan’s response to this is as follows- About my film Mr. Thank you for the kind words written by NE Sudheer… But after giving an award in front of a jury, there is no point in complaining.. The truth is that I didn’t even expect this much.. Didn’t they give three awards..? I am indebted to Academy Chairman Ranjith…
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