72nd National Awards: Manjummel Boys Actor Chandu Salimkumar Shares Disappointment Over 'Better Films' Being Ignored

Maidaan,

Laapataa Ladies, Aavesham and Manjummel Boys were just some of the 2024 releases that did not get a mention at the 72nd National Film Awards. One of the stars of the criticial acclaimed survival thriller Manjummel Boys based on real events has reacted to the nominations list. Actor Chandu Salimkumar took to social media to post his thoughts on the list. He shared that many ordinary films ended up being recognised while better films were ignored. While Chandu did not name any names, he shared that history would remember and judge by what they saw upon the screen.

Chandu Salimkumar reacts to Manjummel Boys snub at National Film Awards

On Instagram, the Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra actor lamented that many good films from 2024 had missed out but didn't mention his film Manjummel Boys by name. He posed a scenario that imagined a young person in 2050 looking back at the history of cinema as they would go through the list of National Film Award winners. Chandu mused, "They won't know who was in power or what the political climate was. They'll judge only what they see on screen."

He further added, "If they find that many ordinary films were honoured while better films were ignored, they'll naturally ask why. And if the answer people keep giving is that awards were influenced by proximity to the ruling party rather than talent, then that's what history will remember." The actor ended his post wondering that the trophy may last forever, but so will the questions about how it was earned.

Chandu also congratulated veteran actor Mammootty, who won his fourth National Award this year as Best Actor for his performance in Bramayugam. He took to his Instagram Stories and wrote, "Imagine the aura of winning a National Award when it's being handed out to the ruling party's friends and family, yet they still can't ignore you-because yours was simply the best performance in the country."

More about the 72nd National Film Awards

The other big winners of the year 2024 included Mammootty and Chandu Champion's Kartik Aaryan, who shared the Best Actor award, while Yami Gautam won the Best Actress honour for Article 370. The Hindi film, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, also won Best Feature Film. Rajkumar Periasamy was named Best Director for Amaran. Bhakshak's Sanjay Mishra won Best Supporting Actor, while Mithya's Ropashree Varkady and Maharaja's Sanchana Namidass shared the Best Supporting Actress honours. Pushpa 2, Kalki 2898 AD and Captain Miller were among the other winners from the South.