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You said when Ramesh Sippy was the jury chairman Amitabh Bachchan was adjudged Best Actor, when Prakash Jha headed the jury, Ajay Devgn received the award. How does that justify giving the award to Akshay Kumar and Mohanlal, and also absolve you from your responsibilities?
My responsibility was to the stand by the jury and do the right thing. What I had said was this had happened before, but no had questioned it then. Then why are people making a hue and cry now? I stand by the jury's decision. Last year, when Baahubali won the Best Film Award, Adoor Gopalakrishnan sir had said that film awards are given for decorations. That's his opinion and we welcome individual opinions; but that's not going to change the fate of the awards.
Did it cross your mind when Akshay Kumar and Mohanlal were in the final two for the Best Actor that you would be criticised?
Imagine my plight when they were the final contenders. But let me explain the process. Before heading the jury, I was individually impressed by a lot of films like Appa, Leela and Guppy. But these movies were not selected by the regional jury. So, out of the 334 films that were considered, many films that I personally considered were good, never made to the last 86 movies that were viewed by national jury. We could decide only from these movies. The list of winners was chosen by 38 jury members and I don't believe that they were senseless. It was a collective decision.
The jury chairman is not the one who makes the decision. Chairman's vote counts only if there is a dispute. The winners are chosen by voting by the jury members that included one member from every state. There were professors, vice chancellors, critics, filmmakers and journalists. I have to agree with their collective decision. For this year's awards, I didn't cast a single vote because the decisions were unanimous.
Even for the inclusion of the Best Action Choreographer, the jury faced a lot flak?
For 63 years, these professionals were completely ignored in cinema. Some of our great heroes - be it Prem Nazir, MGR, NTR or Amitabh Bachchan - they became superstars because of the contribution from the stuntmen. This year the government has decided to recognise their contribution. I don't understand the furore over that. So many stuntmen have died trying to make movies great.
My responsibility was to the stand by the jury and do the right thing. What I had said was this had happened before, but no had questioned it then. Then why are people making a hue and cry now? I stand by the jury's decision. Last year, when Baahubali won the Best Film Award, Adoor Gopalakrishnan sir had said that film awards are given for decorations. That's his opinion and we welcome individual opinions; but that's not going to change the fate of the awards.
Did it cross your mind when Akshay Kumar and Mohanlal were in the final two for the Best Actor that you would be criticised?
Imagine my plight when they were the final contenders. But let me explain the process. Before heading the jury, I was individually impressed by a lot of films like Appa, Leela and Guppy. But these movies were not selected by the regional jury. So, out of the 334 films that were considered, many films that I personally considered were good, never made to the last 86 movies that were viewed by national jury. We could decide only from these movies. The list of winners was chosen by 38 jury members and I don't believe that they were senseless. It was a collective decision.
The jury chairman is not the one who makes the decision. Chairman's vote counts only if there is a dispute. The winners are chosen by voting by the jury members that included one member from every state. There were professors, vice chancellors, critics, filmmakers and journalists. I have to agree with their collective decision. For this year's awards, I didn't cast a single vote because the decisions were unanimous.
Even for the inclusion of the Best Action Choreographer, the jury faced a lot flak?
For 63 years, these professionals were completely ignored in cinema. Some of our great heroes - be it Prem Nazir, MGR, NTR or Amitabh Bachchan - they became superstars because of the contribution from the stuntmen. This year the government has decided to recognise their contribution. I don't understand the furore over that. So many stuntmen have died trying to make movies great.
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