Nandi controversy: Posani Krishna Murali lashes out at Lokesh, declines award

"If CM Naidu doesn't cancel these awards, I won't touch the Nandi Award again in my entire life," Posani said.
Nandi controversy: Posani Krishna Murali lashes out at Lokesh, declines award
Nandi controversy: Posani Krishna Murali lashes out at Lokesh, declines award
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The controversy around the Nandi Awards in Andhra Pradesh refuses to die down, as senior film actor and script writer Posani Krishna Murali on Tuesday lashed out against the state government and rejected an award.

Posani won the best supporting actor category for his film with Jr NTR, Temper. 

He also lashed out against state IT Minister Nara Lokesh, who said that critics of the award selection, were 'NRAs.' (non-resident Andhras).

“How can someone be branded as non-resident Andhra for criticising the manner in which selection for Nandi awards is made?” TDP president and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu too had criticised the previous governments. But he was never called a non-resident. How are non-residents selected as jury members?” he was quoted as saying.

"Many people feel that there is a lot of injustice in the selection process. I request CM Chandrababu Naidu cancel all the awards and redo the process through IVRC method. Even if I don't get any award, I don't mind. If he doesn't cancel these awards, I won't touch the Nandi Award again in my entire life. If the government corrects its mistakes, I would be happy about it," he added.

Earlier this week, several Telugu film personalities spoke out about nepotism and bias in the jury for the Nandi Awards.

Telugu film director Gunasekhar, took to Twitter to publish an open letter addressed to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, which faulted the jury for not giving his movie, Rudramadevi, due recognition. 

Racegurram producer Nallamalupu Bujji also alleged that there was nepotism in the way the awardees were selected. "That’s how much lobbying they did. We didn’t. All the awards I’ve won so far are genuine,” he said.

Film director Ram Gopal Varma also took a dig at the jury, saying that "the jury must be given an Oscar for their extraordinarily meritorious selections.”

Producer Bandla Ganesh too came down heavily on the awards distribution procedure. "It is very clear they have ignored the mega family and have only given awards to their relatives and people who belong to their party. How is it fair to take the Best Actor award being a member of the committee and an MLA?"

Last week, the state government announced the Nandi Film Awards for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Blockbuster film Baahubali, which released in 2015, bagged 13 Nandi awards in different categories, while Nandamuri Balakrishna’s film Legend got eight awards. Balakrishna is one of the jury members. 

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