Pa Ranjith calls out National Film Awards jury for ignoring Sarpatta Parambarai - ‘They are determined that my work...'

Director Pa Ranjith, who is basking in the success of his latest film Thangalaan, recently spoke about how his critically acclaimed 2021 film Sarpatta Parambarai was rejected by the jury of the National Film Awards. Pa Ranjith made explosive remarks against the jury of the National Film Awards for not recognizing certain filmmakers' works. 

"#Sarpatta has been REJECTED in NATIONAL AWARDS due to the politics which I'm undertaking. They are very conscious that my work shouldn't get recognised"
- PaRanjithpic.twitter.com/E0vyr9ALd1

— AmuthaBharathi (@CinemaWithAB) August 22, 2024

Pa Ranjith on why Sarpatta Parambarai was rejected

In an interview, the director revealed that many people around him were confident that the film would win a National Award, but Sarpatta Parambarai was rejected due to the politics he is associated with. As an anti-caste director, Pa Ranjith criticized the jury for not recognizing his work, even when others had honored him for the film. He pointed that Sarpatta Parambarai was nominated for the Critics' Choice Awards. "They say that if you are nominated for this, you are sure to win a National Award. However, my film was not even nominated. It's not because the film isn’t worthy of a National Award; it's because they are aware of the politics I stand for. They are determined that my work doesn’t get recognized," the director asserted 

Films ignored by 69th National Films Awards

The 69th National Film Awards faced heavy criticism for ignoring some of the best Tamil films of 2021—Jai Bhim, Sarpatta Parambarai, and Karnan—all of which dealt with societal inequality. 

Also read: Thangalaan Review: Vikram leads a must-see cinematic journey through history, myth, and power

Sarpatta Parambarai, directed by Pa Ranjith, revolves around a Dalit boxer named Kabilan (played by Arya) and the obstacles he overcomes to achieve success in the sport. The film, which made its direct OTT release in 2021 due to COVID, became one of the most-viewed Tamil films on Amazon Prime Video that year and received critical acclaim upon its release. A sequel to the film has been announced, with Arya set to reprise his role. 

Pa Ranjith’s Thangalaan achieves huge success

Meanwhile, Pa Ranjith’s latest film, Thangalaan, has been making waves at the box office, collecting over Rs 50 crore. The period action drama, starring Vikram, Malavika Mohanan, and Parvathy, revolves around the exploitation of tribal communities in the Kolar Gold Mines during the British era. The director also recently announced a sequel to Thangalaan, which is expected to begin production next year. 

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