Priyadarshan had role in removing Indira Gandhi's name from National Film Awards category: KT Jaleel

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: MLA KT Jaleel, during the budget debate in the Assembly on Wednesday, criticized film director Priyadarshan for dropping the name of Indira Gandhi from the National Film Awards category.

"It hurts that there is a Malayali in the committee tasked by the ministry to exclude Indira Gandhi's name from the Best Debut Drector award and actress Nargis Dutt's name from the award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. It is Kerala's favourite director Priyadarshan. He has a role in removing Indira Gandhi's name. It was Priyadarshan who played part in dropping Nargis Dutt's name. Did the Congress leadership protest anywhere after such a big news?," Nargis Dutt asked.

The names of Indira Gandhi and Nargis Dutt were dropped from the awards by the National Film Awards Committee, which included director Priyadarshan. A committee comprising Priyadarshan was formed under the chairmanship of Neeraja Shekhar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, to bring timely reforms to the National Film Awards. The changes were announced when the notification for the 70th National Film Awards was released.