'There is a reason why Mammootty, Tovino and Asif Ali sat in front row; why raise this feminism card?'

A social media post criticising actress Ahaana Krishna has gone viral after she objected to the seating arrangement at the 55th State Film Awards ceremony. The post questions her allegations and asks why she was “playing the feminism card,” claiming that her arguments are baseless. Ahaana had earlier raised strong criticism on social media, alleging that women award winners were made to sit in the back rows while men were seated in the front. She had also shared a video from the ceremony.

'The Instagram story posted by actress Ahaana Krishna the other day regarding the seating arrangement at the 55th State Film Awards ceremony has triggered wide discussion on social media. Her question about whether it was a coincidence that women were seated at the back created the impression that serious gender discrimination had taken place at the event. But what is the truth? There are certain facts that need to be understood.

Shamla Hamza, who won the Best Actress award, was seated in the front row along with Best Actor winners and directors. Contrary to Ahaana’s claim, not all women were seated at the back. At official events like this, seating is arranged according to award categories. As per protocol, winners of Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and those who received jury special mentions are usually given front-row seats.

Awardees such as Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, music directors, and singers are seated in the rows immediately behind the front, and this applies equally to men and women. Actors such as Mammootty, Tovino Thomas, and Asif Ali were seated in the front row based on the categories of awards they received.

Ahaana reacted after watching an incomplete video shared by an online media outlet. If the full visuals of the ceremony are examined, it becomes clear that her allegations are baseless. Why raise the feminism card in such a situation? Posting stories without properly verifying facts, as if leading a major movement, appears to have been done only to seek attention. When even well-known actresses did not raise any complaints, it raises doubts over whether the allegation of gender discrimination, based on distorted facts, is part of Ahaana’s usual publicity stunt,” the post said.