Veteran actress Urvashi, winner of the Best Supporting Actress award at the 71st National Film Awards for her performance in Ullozhukku, has spoken out strongly about the jury’s decisions—prompting a broader debate on fairness and transparency.
Announced on August 1, 2025, the awards honoured Shah Rukh Khan with his first-ever National Award for Best Actor for Jawan, a milestone in his 33-year career. He shared the honour with Vikrant Massey, recognised for his role in 12th Fail. Meanwhile, Vijayaraghavan received Best Supporting Actor for portraying a 100-year-old man in the Malayalam film Pookkaalam.
In an outspoken interview with Asianet News, Urvashi questioned the criteria that distinguished Vijayraghavan’s role as a supporting one while Shah Rukh was elevated to Best Actor: “What exactly did the jury consider? How did one become a supporting role and the other the best actor?” she asked.
Urvashi also challenged her own award category. Although she won Best Supporting Actress for Ullozhukku, she argued the role felt like a leading part—echoing an earlier experience in 2006 with Achuvinte Amma, where despite playing the lead, she was only recognised in a supporting role.
She added sharply, “This is not pension money to be silently accepted,” insisting that awards should reflect clear merit, not happenstance.
Beyond personal grievance, Urvashi’s statements highlight perceived inconsistencies in jury decisions. She questioned why Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life, a critically acclaimed film starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, received no recognition this year. Referencing prior practices, she also asked why the Best Actress award—which had been split in recent years—wasn’t again divided this year, given multiple strong contenders.
She called upon Union Minister Suresh Gopi to examine the jury process and ensure that Malayalam cinema is not unfairly sidelined. “We are taxpaying citizens—there must be clarity and fairness,” she emphasised.
