Pa Ranjith Questions the Integrity of Film Awards: “Are Government and Private Award Bodies Truly Honest?”

Just a day after the Tamil Nadu government announced the State Film Awards for the years 2016 to 2022, acclaimed director Pa Ranjith has sparked a major debate by publicly questioning the fairness and honesty of both government and private award organizations in Tamil Nadu and across India.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pa Ranjith wrote: “In this situation where the Tamil Nadu government has announced film awards, I have one question for you all: Are government and private award bodies in Tamil Nadu and at the national level truly and honestly functioning?”

The post quickly went viral, garnering thousands of likes, retweets, and replies within hours. While many users supported his question and called for greater transparency in award selections, others debated it from political and artistic angles, turning it into a trending discussion in Tamil cinema circles.

The Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, announced yesterday after a long delay of several years, included the following major honors:

• Best Films: Maanagaram, Aram, Pariyerum Perumal, Asuran, Koozhangal, Jai Bhim, Karki, among others.
• Best Actors: Vijay Sethupathi, Karthi, Dhanush, R. Parthiban, Suriya, Arya, Vikram Prabhu.
• Best Actresses: Keerthy Suresh, Nayanthara, Jyothika, Manju Warrier, Aparna Balamurali, Lijomol Jose, Sai Pallavi.

Notably, Pa Ranjith’s critically acclaimed film Sarpatta Parambarai received some acting awards but did not win in the Best Film category, which has disappointed sections of his fans and led some to link his question directly to that omission.

The awards announcement itself has already drawn criticism for its unusual delay (covering seven years at once), perceived omissions of certain acclaimed films (such as Peranbu), and questions over the selection process’s objectivity.

By raising this pointed question, Pa Ranjith has ignited a wider public conversation about transparency, merit, bias, and credibility in both state-level and national film award systems — including bodies like the National Film Awards and private award ceremonies.

The debate is expected to continue as more voices from the industry and audiences weigh in.