Jaleel blames Priyadarshan over excluding Indira Gandhi's name from National Film Award category

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Minister K.T. Jaleel criticized filmmaker Priyadarshan for excluding former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's name from the National Film Awards category.

Jaleel alleged that Priyadarshan played a part in excluding the name of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from an award category. 

During the budget discussion in state assembly on Wednesday, the CPM leader wondered why Congress leaders remain silent on the matter. 

"Indira Gandhi's name was left out of the National Film Award. Priyadarshan, the only Malayali on the award committee, had a role to play. Did Congress leaders react to this?" he asked. 

Earlier, the ‘Regulations of the 70th National Film Awards 2022’ notified on Tuesday that the names of Indira Gandhi and late actor Nargis Dutt will not be used at the upcoming awards ceremony. The changes include an upward revision in the cash rewards, including for the Dadasaheb Phalke award, and several awards being fused.

Instead, Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film will be mentioned as Best Debut Film of a Director. Similarly, the 'Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on national integration' will now be called the 'Best feature film promoting national, social and environmental values'.