The controversy surrounding the 65th National Film Awards refuses to die down, with  director Jayaraj now stirring up another controversy by lashing out the winners who stayed away from the ceremony and refusing to take the award from I&B Minister Smriti Irani.

He added that those who boycotted the event should return the cash award that was deposited into their accounts. Jayaraj won the award for his film Bhayanakam, which won two more National Awards this year.

The National Film Awards 2018 ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Thursday. Hours before the event, the winners were informed that only 11 winners would receive the honour from President Ram Nath Kovind, with minister for Information & Broadcasting Smriti Irani giving away the rest of the awards.

Over 50 winners decided not to attend the event in protest. Many artistes from Malayalam filmdom, who won maximum number of awards, decided to skip the ceremony.