Balachandra Menon | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Actor Balachandra Menon opened up about winning national awards while revealing major steps in his career through his YouTube channel ‘Filmy Fridays’. His movie ‘Samaantharangal’ had been chosen for three categories - Best Actor, Best Director and Best Movie in the national awards 1997. But the decision was later changed due to the opinion of a jury member who was a Malayali.
Balachandra Menon’s words
The movie ‘Samaantharangal’ won the awards for Best Actor and Best Film on Family Welfare. It was a huge deal for me. But I also felt disappointed.
After the awards were announced, we went to Delhi for the award ceremony. I ran into Devendra Khandelwal on the lift one day. He told me - “Your movie ‘Samaantharangal’ amused the jury, Balachandra Menon, your movie was considered for Best Actor, Best Director and Best Film. But one of the jury members was against this. It is surprising that the man is a Malayali.” That was a shocking piece of news for me.
I had worked in 10 departments in the movie ‘Samaantharangal’. I can state that with pride. I have never been a part of any jury in Kerala. I have not tried for it either. But I have been on the jury for National Awards once.
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