Veteran filmmaker and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Adoor Gopalakrishnan launched a scathing attack on the recent National Film Awards, accusing the selection process of repeatedly honoring substandard films. Adoor Gopalakrishnan knocks down national awards. Speaking to PTI reporters on Sunday, he said, “If the quality of the jury is poor, it will select bad films for recognition.” Gopalakrishnan went further and warned that if this trend continues, it may be better to abandon the allocation system altogether. “For quite some time, the worst films of the year get the National Awards. It needs to be investigated how this happens,” he asserted. He added that the original purpose of the National Film Awards – to recognize and promote quality films – seems to have been reversed. “The aim … was to recognize and promote quality film, but now the exact opposite seems to be happening,” he said. Broader industry and public backlash Gopalakrishnan is not alone in his criticism. Several stalwarts of Indian cinema have expressed disappointment at what they see as a dilution of the awards’ integrity. Veteran actor-director Prakash Raj recently described the National Awards as “compromised” and said they did not deserve legendary actor Mammootty. Meanwhile, the Best Supporting Actress win for veteran actress Urvashi sparked an uproar in the Malayalam film industry earlier this year. Many, including Urvashi herself, questioned the jury’s decision to award roles which they felt were wrongly categorized, raising doubts about the criteria used. Other critics pointed to controversial winners like The Kerala Story. While the film took home two major honors – Best Director and Best Cinematography – its dramatic subject matter and allegations of propaganda drew serious backlash. Veteran actress Ranjini called the recognition a “disgrace” that combines “the purity of the highest awards” with “fake story” status. Some industry insiders have warned that the awards’ credibility could be permanently diminished if such selections continue.