Panaji, India — The corridors of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) recently became the stage for a poignant protest by acclaimed filmmaker Miransha Naik. Known for his success with the Konkani film Juze, Naik arrived at the ESG on Thursday bearing his four awards from the Goa State Film Festival, only to express his dissatisfaction with a controversial grading decision.
Naik’s Juze was assigned the lowest "C" grade in the evaluation process of the Goa Film Finance Scheme. The filmmaker’s disappointment was palpable as he presented his awards to ESG General Manager Mrinal Walke, voicing his frustration over the jury’s decision. "Despite Juze winning a total of 14 awards at the recent Goa State Film Festival, including accolades for Best Feature Film and Best Direction, it was categorized in the lowest tier," he explained.
The recognition Naik received at the festival held in August stood in stark contrast to the ESG’s grading, a contradiction that left him feeling humiliated. His film has notably made waves internationally, screening at 25 global film festivals from New York to Dublin, and receiving commendations such as the Special Jury Award at the Minsk Film Festival and accolades for Best Director in Singapore.
Mrinal Walke, shaken by Naik’s protest, assured the filmmaker that ESG would reevaluate the grading process and establish an Evaluation Committee to reconsider the films previously categorized. Within hours of the encounter, ESG removed the contentious grading sheet from its website. Faced with this new assurance, Naik decided against returning his awards, at least for now.
For Naik, the distress over Juze‘s grading reflects a broader issue within the local film community. While he has successfully showcased Konkani cinema on an international platform, the disparity between accolades abroad and dismissal at home has left him and many others questioning the ESG’s transparency and credibility.
The incident has not only sparked discussions among filmmakers but also raised concerns about the future of government support for local cinema. As the film community watches closely, many are eager for changes that might restore faith in the evaluation processes that impact the creative industry.
This incident underscores ongoing tensions in the creative sector regarding recognition and support for home-grown talent. Naik’s passion for elevating Konkani cinema has garnered international admiration, yet the challenges he faces at home remain significant.
The discourse ignited by this event suggests a need for the ESG to reassess its approach and actively engage with local filmmakers to ensure fair and constructive evaluations moving forward.
This article was automatically written by Open AI and may contain inaccuracies. Requests for removal, retraction, or correction can be sent to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.