Overview

• National Awards jury member Pradeep Nair defended the zero-award outcome by citing concerns that the adaptation lacked naturality and performances felt inauthentic.
• Director Blessy accused jury chair Ashutosh Gowariker of double standards after the filmmaker’s earlier praise likened Aadujeevitham to Lawrence of Arabia.
• Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran said his priority was the film’s global impact and audience reception, adding that awards remained secondary to its box-office success.
• Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty questioned why the Malayalam survival drama was completely ignored and suggested potential jury bias.
• Veteran actress Urvashi alleged that political fallout from the Empuraan controversy influenced the omission of the film from the winners list.