Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraaj asks protesting artistes to return their cash prizes too

Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraaj, whose Bhayanakam won three National Awards, was critical of artistes who boycotted the awards ceremony held on 3 May.

The Week reported that Jayaraaj had asked the protesting artistes to return their cash prize too.

Among those who boycotted the ceremony were Malayalam actors like Parvathy and Fahadh Faasil. The 65th National Film Awards ceremony was a departure from tradition of the Indian president handing over the awards to all the winners. Many "hurt" recipients skipped the ceremony as president Ram Nath Kovind had time to present only 11 out of 125 awards.

“I find nothing wrong in having said that. I do not want to comment further, let the others respond to what I have said, then I will comment more on this matter,” Jayaraaj later told TheNewsMinute.com.

Jayaraaj's Bhayanakam won three awards — Best Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography — at the National Film Awards.