"Shame on the Kerala Government": Netizens slam Vedan's win at Kerala State Film Awards, question credibility

The announcement of the 55th Kerala State Film Awards held in Thrissur has now turned controversial. When Fisheries and Culture Minister Saji Cherian announced the winners, the Best Lyricist award for Manjummel Boys surprised everyone. The award went to popular rapper and lyricist Vedan (real name Hirandhas Murali). As soon as his name was announced, criticism and questions rained down on social media.The decision to award Vedan has deeply affected fans and social activists. Many have questioned whether the government is right to honor someone who has been accused of a crime. Harsh comments were widely posted on X (Twitter), asking, “What message does giving him an award while criminal cases are pending send to society?” Some people said under the hashtag #KeralaStateFilmAwards, “Honoring a man when the allegations against him are unproven calls into question the credibility of the government.”Some netizens alleged, “Films like #Kammarasambhavam were boycotted for political reasons, but how did they choose someone who was embroiled in allegations?” Questions like, “Why are feminist activists silent?” also gained momentum. Some also questioned, “Is Vethan really worthy of being a great lyricist?” The idea that “some talented new writers missed out on this opportunity” also spread.The controversy surrounding Vedan created a stir last year, with several women making sexual allegations against him. Although Vedan has publicly apologized, the cases are still pending in court. The fact that he was awarded the state award in this context has challenged the credibility of the government and the award committee. Although there is an argument that “a person should not be considered guilty unless an accusation is proven,” most social media users condemn this as “setting a wrong precedent for society.”Disclaimer: The information regarding sexual allegations is based on available reports and should not be considered a statement of guilt unless proven by a court of law. All persons mentioned shall be presumed innocent until due process of law establishes otherwise.