Gender bias in JC Daniel award: Lalitha

Thiruvananthapuram: There is a gender bias in denying J C Daniel award for overall contribution in cinema to women, said actor KPAC Lalitha.

Speaking after receiving P K Rosy award instituted by Kerala Sthree Padana Kendram as part of the 6th female film festival held here on Sunday, Lalitha said that there were many women actors who are worthy of J C Daniel award, but the government is denying them.

“I feel proud to receive an award in the name of P K Rosy, the first woman actor in Malayalam cinema,” she said. She said today’s films lack prominent women characters like those she had played during her initial years.

Recollecting the dramas such as Thulabharam, Mudiyanaya Putran, Aswamedham and Sarasaiya, Lalitha said the women played prominent roles in the plays written by Thoppil Bhashi and S L Puram Sadanandan.

“Most of these plays were beautifully adapted into films. However, I don’t see such significant female roles in today’s cinema,” she said.

Earlier, minister for co-operation Kadakampally Surendran presented the P K Rosy award to Lalitha for her overall contribution to Malayalam cinema.

He also distributed awards to winners of the best documentary and best short film of the film festival to Rajesh James for The Naked Wheels and Aji Antony Alunkal for Pottu respectively.

The four-day female film festival, which was inaugurated by actor Urvasi, concluded on Sunday. More than 20 films, documentaries and short films, which raise serious questions about gender bias, were screened at the festival held at Bharath Bhavan.