It's been a secret till now. In fact, director Ketan Mehta has chosen to keep mum about the unjust treatment meted out to his upcoming film Manjhi: The Mountain Man at the National Film Awards, in New Delhi, two years ago.
The first print of Manjhi: The Mountain Man, based on a true life story, was rushed to the National Film Awards for consideration in various categories. But it was thumbed down by the awards' sub-committee, who select films for final appraisal by the jury comprising eminent filmmakers, technicians and critics.
Any member of the jury has the right to recall a film rejected by the sub-committee. It is learnt that a member of the final jury saw the film at a screening and recommended it for consideration -- for the Best Actor Award for Nawazuddin Siddiqui and for its Special Effects -- to his fellow jurors and the jury's chairman Saeed Mirza.
However, it was brushed off cavalierly for reasons which remain a mystery. Since the chairman has the final word on whether the entire jury should opt for reconsideration, Mehta's film went through the cracks. Incidentally, Mehta has won National Awards earlier for Bhavni Bhavai and Sardar, besides international awards for Mirch Masala.
A source told SpotboyE.com that a fortnight after the jury's deliberations, Mehta was told about the unfair treatment accorded to his film. When he was quizzed about whether he had any personal or professional differences with any members of the sub-committee, the jury or its chairman, he avoided making any comments. Silence speaks more eloquently than words perhaps.
The National Award of 2013 eventually went for Special Effects to the Purab Kohli desert film Jal. Rajkummar Rao bagged the Best Actor Award for Shahid.
It was quite a competitive year for the Best Actor category. Farhan Akhtar was the favourite contender for his performance in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. However, some members did not watch the complete film, saying that they had seen it earlier.
One even said he had seen it on his flight to Singapore but had fallen asleep halfway. Go figure!