Urvashi questions criterion for choosing National Award for Best Actress

The National Film Award jury’s decision to award Urvashi and Vijayaraghavan in the supporting actor categories despite them playing lead roles in Ullozhukku and Pookkaalam respectively had raised eyebrows when the awards were announced last week.

Now, the actress has raised questions about the criterion on which their performances were considered in the supporting category and not in the main category.

Speaking to The Hindu on Monday, Urvashi said she is not questioning the awards given to any other actor, but wanted clarity on how her performance was considered under the best supporting actress category.

“I don’t know if the old rules have changed over there. Earlier, actors who played lead roles were considered only for the best actor awards. Quite a few people, including young actresses, have been calling me and asking me about this particular decision of the jury, which made me decide to question the jury’s decision. They are concerned whether they will also be ignored from being considered for the main categories. I am raising this question not for myself, but for the younger generation of actors as well as for the future generations. Silence is not an option at least in some matters related to justice. It will only end up encouraging wrong doing. I believe that a possibility of questions being raised might lead them to make just decisions in the future,” said Urvashi.

Questioning the repeated instances of actors and films from the South being overlooked, she said her performance in J Baby was also recommended by the regional jury, but is unsure of whether the main jury watched it as there was not even a mention of it.

“I have no fear in speaking up as these are my own words. I have no connection with any political party. My questions are to the award jury, not the government. I will certainly accept the award because it is a recognition for the entire team of Ullozhukku,” she said.

In Christo Tomy’s Ullozhukku, Urvashi plays Leelamma who shares a fraught relationship with her daughter-in-law, played by Parvathy. Devastated by the death of her son and caught amid the revelation of unpleasant truths, the woman digs deep into her reserves of strength to navigate the troubled waters. The performance won her the Best Actress Award in the Kerala State Film Awards.