With Tollywood failing to bag a sing award in most important categories, barring an award for the offbeat '1940 Lo Oka Gramam', the debate as to whether our filmmakers are competent to make films of stature has once again come up. Of the seven films that were put in the race - Ashta Chamma, Arundathi, Neninthe, Bathukamma, Gamyam, Cell and 1940 Lo Oka Gramam, only the last one got an award, while the supposedly hot contenders like Gamyam and Arundhathi drew a blank.

In fact, 'Arundathi' was expected to romp home with at least two awards, in the categories of Visual Effects and Art Direction, but sadly, the film did not get a single award. Also, 'Gamyam', which is touted as one of the best stories in recent times, did not make a start at the Awards, while it romped home with a bevy of awards given by the State Government.

If the Kollywoodian, Bala, the director of Naan Kaduval, romped home with the prestigious award of Best Director, no mainstream Tollywood film or personality made a score at the National Awards. The question is, when the Tamil audience lap up directors with distinct touch like Bala, why do our audience show their aversion to films with artistic essence?