Actor`s complaint on film award has no merit: Cinema minister

Thiruvananthapuram: National award-winning actor Salim Kumar has filed a complaint that his documentary ‘Pokkali’ was not even screened for the jury of Kerala State Film Awards 2011. But his complaint has no merit, says Kerala Cinema Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar. Ganesh Kumar told IANS Tuesday that the rules of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy on film entries are very clear and Salim Kumar`s documentary was not produced in the prescribed format. "The rules are crystal clear and it states that a documentary to be considered for state film awards has to be shot in film format and not on video. Please note that there is (seperate) competition for video films and for the state film award, it is clear that the movies have to be shot in film format," said Ganesh Kumar, an actor-turned-politician. Salim Kumar approached the Kerala High Court Monday challenging the decision of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy not to place his documentary film before the judging committee. The court has asked both the state government and the Academy to file their affidavit regarding this issue. Salim Kumar told reporters that when he first approached the Academy with his film, they asked him to get it in film format. "I rushed to Mumbai and got it into film format and re-submitted it. They have given me a receipt also for it and hence its gross injustice done to me, as they did not even do the screening before the jury," he said. IANS