Chandu Salimkumar Calls Out National Film Awards After ‘Manjummel Boys’ Gets Overlooked

When the 72nd National Film Awards were unveiled on Saturday evening, most of us in the Malayalam film world were quick to celebrate the wins – Mammootty’s fourth Best Actor trophy for Bramayugam, the Best Malayalam Film nod to Feminichi Fathima, and a handful of technical honours that made the community proud.

But for actor Chandu Salimkumar, who appears in the ensemble cast of the 2024 box‑office juggernaut Manjummel Boys, the night felt a little… off. He didn’t name the film outright in his Instagram note, yet the subtext was crystal clear: a film that broke records – ₹241 crore worldwide – and resonated with audiences was nowhere in the official list.

“Imagine a kid in 2050 studying the history of Indian cinema,” Chandu wrote. “They’ll read the National Award winners, watch every celebrated film, and never know which movies were actually ignored because of who was in power.” He went on to suggest that the awards risk becoming a footnote of political proximity rather than a true barometer of artistic merit.

His post read almost like a gentle reprimand, peppered with a hint of sarcasm. “If people lose faith in the idea that awards outlive governments, history will remember the ceremony not for its celebration of cinema, but for how often it bowed to power,” he added.

Fans and fellow artists quickly picked up on the cue, sharing the note and adding their own takes. Some argued that the jury’s choices reflected a broader, more inclusive view of cinema, while others echoed Chandu’s belief that Manjummel Boys – a survival drama rooted in true events and helmed by director‑writer Chidambaram – deserved a spot on the pedestal.

For context, Manjummel Boys wasn’t just a commercial success; it was a story about ordinary lives, a slice of Kerala’s gritty reality, and featured a star‑studded cast including Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese and many more. Its omission sparked a conversation that goes beyond one film, touching on how awards can sometimes become mirrors of the prevailing political climate.

Chandu’s sentiment resonates with a larger pattern many observers have noted over the years: a handful of “ordinary” films snag awards while critically acclaimed works slip through the cracks. Whether it’s a matter of taste, politics, or a blend of both, the debate is unlikely to die down anytime soon.

Meanwhile, the actor kept his Instagram Stories upbeat, sharing a still of Mammootty’s award‑winning performance and writing, “Even when the trophy lands in the hands of the ruling party’s friends, a truly great performance can’t be ignored.” It was a subtle nod to the fact that talent does get recognized, albeit perhaps not as consistently as one would hope.

As the awards season rolls on, the question Chandu posed will linger: will future generations look back at these lists as honest snapshots of Indian cinema, or as notes scribbled by a jury influenced more by power than by pure craft? Only time – and maybe a few more Instagram rants – will tell.