One of the most talked-about omissions at the 71st National Film Awards has been Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life), directed by Blessy and starring Prithviraj Sukumaran. Despite critical acclaim and strong box office numbers, the Malayalam film failed to win in any category, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Director, categories it had dominated at the Kerala State Film Awards earlier this year. The snub has triggered wide debate, particularly after jury chairperson Ashutosh Gowariker was quoted as saying that the film lacked naturality and the performances did not feel authentic. In response, Benyamin, the author of the eponymous original novel Aadujeevitham, expressed his disappointment with sharp sarcasm in a conversation with 24 News.
“When 100 people watch a film, there will be 100 opinions. The Jury Chairman is just one of them. People have embraced the film and expressed their views. That is enough for me,” Benyamin told. He then took a pointed dig at the jury in a seemingly sarcastic tone, saying, “What more can we expect from them in this era? The Jury Chairman, too, has to live in India, does he not?” Criticising the panel’s credibility, he added, “If there was any sincerity, the jury would have acted more truthfully.”
Director Blessy had earlier confirmed that the film had completed censorship formalities on time, countering speculation that it was disqualified on technical grounds. “We got the censor done on December 31, 2023 at 4 PM. So that was never an issue,” he told us. Jury member and filmmaker Pradeep Nair later stated that Aadujeevitham was considered in several categories, including Best Lyrics and Best Playback Singer, but fell short due to technical lapses and stiff competition. He also acknowledged that K R Gokul’s performance was appreciated but did not lead to an award.
Released in March 2024, the film was a critical and commercial success, winning nine Kerala State Film Awards. Its absence at the national level has left many questioning the credibility and transparency of the jury process.