- By Tapapriya Dutta
- Wed, 05 Nov 2025 04:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Malayalam screenwriter and founding member of Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), Deedi Damodaran, criticised the jury of the Kerala State Film Award for giving the Best Lyricist Award to Hirandas Murali, better known as rapper Vedan. Murali was accused of a rape case earlier this year. In Damodaran’s statement, she stated that the jury of Award Management owed the women of the state an apology. Vedan was given the award for the song Kuthanthram from the 2024 hit Manjummel Boys. The jury was headed by Prakash Raj.
Deedi Damodaran stated that the lines by Vedan, ‘viyarppu thunnititta kuppayam’ (the shirt stitched with sweat), were ‘magnificent’, but the award was ‘stained by blood’ from the wounds of the victims. In a Facebook post, she said, “The jury's decision amounts to a breach of trust against the government's policy declarations at the recent film conclave that those who exploit women will not be protected. Even if this decision cannot be reversed through legal means, the film jury owes an apology to the women of Kerala for etching such a verdict into the history of cinema.”
Malayalam Screenwriter Criticises Kerala State Film Awards Jury For Giving Award To Hirandas Murali (Image: Facebook/Deedi T)
Also read: Mithra Mandali OTT Release: When And Where To Watch Priyadarshi Pulikonda’s Telugu Movie Online?
This year, the Kerala State Film Award became the centre of discussion for another reason as there was no child artist category in the award list. Earlier, the child artist Devanandha Jibin showcased disappointment about the same. She wrote on Instagram, “Close your eyes to the kids, but don't say it's dark all over here. Children are also part of this society, the jury closed its eyes with the announcement of the 2024 Malayalam Film Awards towards the coming generation.”
Recommended For You
“It is not by sitting without giving awards to two children, but trying to say more children's movies should be done. If it had been given to two children, it would have become energy for many children. There is a lot of anger that the jury chairman who said that children should get more opportunities and that they too are part of society did not see the rights of children. All media, filmmakers, and the general public should discuss this too, not by investing rights, changes should happen, rights should be protected along with changes,” she added.
During the 55th Kerala Film State Awards, jury head Prakash Raj said, “This year, the jury did not give the best children film and the best child artist for male and female for the simplest reason that we did not find a single film or attempt to make a children's film. With great humility, we request the filmmaking community to please think of making children's films. They must realise that children are also part of society.”