BHUBANESWAR: Deep resentment is brewing among the Oriya film fraternity and enthusiasts over non-announcement of the coveted Jayadev award, State's highest honour for cinema, for the year 2005.

While the seven member jury could finalise the 19 awards for 2005 which will be presented during the 18th state film awards presentation ceremony at Rabindra Mandap here on Wednesday, it reserved the selection of the Jayadev awardee for reasons best known to itself and recommended the culture department to go for "people's verdict" on the matter of selecting the awardee.

The jury's arbitrary decision has pushed the Government into utter embarrassment. While Culture Minister Surya Narayan Patro was unable to convince the media about the justification behind the decision, he had no clue when he was asked about the qualification of the jury members.

Members

Ironically enough, the seven-member-jury has a retired IAS officer as the chairperson, a former diplomat, an industrialist and an editor of an Oriya literary magazine - who are in no way involved with Oriya cinema - besides two film journalists as members. Although eminent actor and Jayadev awardee Sarat Pujari has been in the committee, there is none in the body from among the technicians although awards in cinematography, editing, audiography and art direction are being given away.

On condition of anonymity, several eminent film personalities including a few Jayadev awardees who spoke to The Hindu strongly felt that people connected with cinema should constitute the jury.

Coveted award

"There are so many people worthy of being considered for the coveted award. While actor Uttam Mohanty has already been a Jayadev awardee, his mentor, nationally acclaimed eminent actor and filmmaker Sadhu Meher is yet to be considered for the honour.

Nirad Mohapatra, who has been an icon in Indian cinema circles, is another miss so far," one of them pointed out.

"It is ridiculous to seek public opinion for selection of the Jayadev awardee.

It seems that the jury does not find itself worthy of choosing the right person. Then how could they choose the other state awardees?" questioned another.

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