‘His cinema, his award, his gaze!’ Film fraternity slams Kerala State Award for Vedan amid sexual assault charges

The Kerala State Film Awards have drawn sharp criticism after rapper Vedan won the Best Lyricist award for his rap “Viyarp Thunniyitta Kuppayam” from the hit film ‘Manjummel Boys’. Prominent voices in the Malayalam film industry, including filmmakers Deedi Damodaran and Shruthi Sharanyam, have slammed the jury’s decision, citing the sexual assault allegations pending against the artist.

‘Jury must apologise to women of Kerala’

In a strongly worded Facebook post, filmmaker Deedi Damodaran said the jury and government must apologise to the women of Kerala for honouring Vedan, who is facing multiple criminal cases.

“The lyrics of the rap song Viyarp Thunniyitta Kuppayam are laudable. However, the award is an injustice in light of the bloodshed suffered by the complainants hidden in the shadows. No amount of celebratory songs can erase or hide that crime,” she wrote.
 

She further called the award a betrayal of the government’s earlier promise, made during the Film Conclave, that it would not protect sexual offenders within the industry.

“Even if challenged in court, this decision—now etched in film history—is a betrayal. The film jury owes an apology to the women of Kerala,” she added.

Shruthi Sharanyam slams jury’s ‘male gaze’

Filmmaker Shruthi Sharanyam also took aim at the awards, calling them the “Kerala State Masculine Awards” in a scathing social media post.
 

The Jury Chairman admits that female-oriented contenders made up less than 10 percent of the entries. And they go on to shower awards on a hoydenish film, sweeping most of the honours! Even habitual sex offenders are celebrated without hesitation,” she wrote.

She added that the jury continues to be trapped in the “male gaze”, while internationally recognised women-led Malayalam films showcased at Cannes and Seoul were overlooked.

“His film… his award… his gaze!” Shruthi concluded, echoing the frustration of many female voices in the industry.
Another prominent voice from the film fraternity, veteran actor and director Joy Mathew, also criticised the decision to honour Vedan.

Allegations against Vedan

Vedan was arrested by the Thrikkakara Police following a complaint by a young doctor who alleged that he sexually assaulted her under the pretext of marriage. He is also an accused in another case involving the harassment of a research student, and has faced earlier #MeToo allegations, for which he had issued a public apology.

Despite these ongoing legal issues, Vedan—who has built a reputation as a politically charged rapper—was honoured with one of the state’s top artistic awards.

Backlash against jury and government

The decision reportedly originated from the firm recommendation of jury chairman Prakash Raj, who pushed for recognition of Vedan’s unconventional lyricism despite objections. Critics, however, say the decision sends a dangerous message about accountability and ethics in Kerala’s film fraternity.

With public backlash mounting, the controversy has reignited debates about misogyny, justice and artistic integrity in Kerala’s cultural sphere.