Priya has nothing against the State Award Committee

The Karnataka High Court’s decision to nullify the 2010-11 State Film Awards has come as a victory of sorts for actor-director Priya Hassan, who was among the frontrunners challenging the award committee’s decisions. Priya talks to BT about her stand on the issue...
Priya says, “First, I am an artist and I am not against anyone in the industry, including Upendra, who is most affected by this decision, as he will have to return the State Award.It is the audience and the committee that represents them who decide the winners, not the people involved with the making of some films. I took up this cause because I found that the committee had not followed rules, and that affected other deserving candidates who may have stood a chance to win an award. “I believe that such incidents happen in other film industries too, but more so here. The industry should be happy that justice has been delivered. I am also hoping that such mistakes do not occur again."
“People feel that I took up the fight because I had a film up for consideration that year. I’d like to say that there is no personal agenda involved and I am not hoping to win an award for the year, even if a new selection committee is formed. My film ran for over 100 days and that itself is my award. “Initially, people warned me against standing up for this cause. They said the industry will not support me, as such flouting of rules is common at various levels. Only this time, there was proper evidence and there were people who encouraged me too. Today, they are appreciative of my efforts and the way things have turned out.”