Child actor Deva Nandha has publicly called out Prakash Raj, who chaired the jury for the Kerala State Film Awards, for the controversial decision to scrap awards for children’s categories. Nandha, celebrated for her performances in films such as ‘Malikappuram’ and ‘Gu’, expressed her disappointment via Instagram.
Managed by her parents, Deva Nandha shared a clip of Prakash Raj’s press conference, adding her own poignant message: “Close your eyes to the kids, but don’t say it’s dark all over here. Children are also part of this society.” She voiced her concern that the jury’s announcement for the 2024 Malayalam Film Awards overlooked the contributions and potential of young actors.
Nandha emphasized the integral role children play in cinema and society, citing films like ‘Sthanarthi Sreekuttan’, ‘Gu’, ‘Phoenix’, and ‘ARM’ as examples of successful child-centric projects. She argued that presenting awards would have been more beneficial for encouraging more children’s films. “It is not by sitting without giving awards to two children, but trying to say more children’s movies should be done. If it had been given to two children, it would have become energy for many children,” she explained.
She expressed that it was disheartening for the jury chairman, who had previously advocated for children’s opportunities and their societal importance, to make a decision that seemingly disregarded the rights of child artists. Deva Nandha appealed for widespread discussion among media, filmmakers, and the public to promote positive changes and ensure the protection of children’s rights within the film fraternity.
The 55th Kerala State Film Awards winners were announced on November 3, 2025, with Prakash Raj leading the seven-member jury. At the subsequent press conference, Raj justified the absence of children’s awards by stating, “This year, we did not give awards for Best Children’s Film or Best Child Artist because we didn’t find any film or attempt that truly represented children. Directors and writers must realise that children are also part of society.”