The controversy surrounding the selection of films for the 62nd National Film Awards took a new twist with film personality and MLC Tara accusing the Directorate of Film Festivals, India (DFF), of meting out “injustice to the Kannada film industry”, and saying it was “planned”.
This comes close on the heels of a few filmmakers accusing her of “jeopardising the possibility of Kannada films getting more national film awards”.
The controversy arose when filmmakers, including B.S. Lingadevaru, director of national award winning film Naanu Avanalla, Avalu, alleged that Ms. Tara had agreed to be a member of the jury despite knowing that her film Ulidavaru Kandante was one among the 310 films in the competition. The norms restrict anyone connected with a film in competition from becoming a member of the jury.
The DFF provides a list of films in the competition before taking the consent of the jury. It was, therefore, the responsibility of the person chosen to declare that he/she had no connection with any of the films in competition. “But Ms. Tara did not abide by the norm,” Mr. Lingadevaru had alleged.
When contacted by The Hindu , Ms. Tara clarified that the DFF had not provided her the list of 310 films before choosing her as Chairperson of Eastern Zone. She came to know about Ulidavaru Kandante after finalising the list of eastern region films. This is why she had refused to become part of the jury for the final rounds, she added.
She said poet Doddarange Gowda had faced similar problems. He had learnt of his three films being in competition only after reaching Delhi, Ms. Tara added. Ms. Tara has written a letter on the issue to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
