The 70th National Film Awards has faced significant criticism for overlooking certain stars and films. Although many deserving artists were honored, the exclusion of legendary Malayalam actor Mammootty has caused a stir. Despite his excellenr performances in ‘Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam’ and ‘Rorschach,’ Mammootty did not receive any awards.

The absence of recognition for Mammootty, especially given the accolades garnered by other Malayalam films like ‘Aattam’ and ‘Saudi Vellakka’, led to an outpouring of frustration among Malayali fans, who took to social media to express their discontent. Many questioned how such powerful performances by the veteran actor could be overlooked.

Following this, filmmaker M.B. Padmakumar, a South Zone jury member for the National Film Awards, addressed the situation through a video on Instagram. Padmakumar clarified that Mammootty’s omission was not due to any bias or interference, but simply because none of his films were submitted for consideration by the jury. “Even though films like ‘Aattam’ received the recognition they deserved, it is saddening that Mammootty did not win an award. However, many of you are unaware that none of his films were submitted to the jury board for consideration,” Padmakumar explained.

The news continues to fuel discussions online, with some fans arguing that Mammootty deserved the Best Actor award over Rishab Shetty, who won for his role in ‘Kantara’. Padmakumar also dismissed any allegations of political influence, emphasizing that the decision was purely procedural. He expressed regret that the Malayalam film industry missed the opportunity to honor one of its most iconic stars this year.