This year's edition of National Film Awards could be its most controversial ceremony to date. Usually, the awards ceremony catch flak over the chosen winners, but here, it is the ceremony itself that has been in the eye of the controversy. Over 60 winners decided to skip the award ceremony because the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, chose only to give 11 awards. The rest of the awards were given out by I & B Minister Smriti Irani and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

Usually, it is the President who gives away all the awards in the ceremony, so Ram Nath Kovind's decision to stay only for a short duration of the ceremony has not pleased many. The unhappy winners had written an open petition to the President voicing their dissent over his decision and that they would not attend the event. Among the boycotters were winners from Malayalam film industry like Parvathy (Special Mention for Take Off) and Fahadh Faasil (Best Supporting Actor Male for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum), who chose to stay away from the ceremony.

However, playback singer KJ Yesudas and director Jayaraj chose to attend the event, despite having signed the petition. The move of theirs has drawn criticism from certain sections of Malayalam film industry.

As per the website, Mangalam Online, director Sibi Malayil, while applauding the winners who boycotted the award, wrote on his Facebook page that he is ashamed of KJ Yesudas and Jayaraj.

Popular Malayalam voice artiste and actress Bhagyalakshmi told the media that she had informed the duo of the decision to boycott the ceremony. When she as asked about their stance to attend the event, she sighed and replied that there is bound for cheating and betrayal to happen in these matters.

However, Yesudas told the media that he signed the petition only to protest against the discrimination shown and he had no intention not to attend the ceremony.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 03, 2018 11:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).