Acclaimed Child Actress Deva Nandha Criticizes Kerala Film Awards for Neglecting Young Talent

In a bold move, rising child actress Deva Nandha has taken a stand against the Kerala State Film Awards jury, led by Prakash Raj, for their apparent lack of recognition for young talent. Deva Nandha, best known for her acclaimed performance in the film 'Malikappuram', has expressed deep disappointment over what she describes as the jury's "blindness" toward the impact of child artists in the industry.

Reacting to Prakash Raj's statement that the jury wished to encourage more children's films, Deva Nandha argued that the decision to overlook child performers in this year's awards is a disservice to the industry. She noted that several child actors, including those in films like 'Sthanaarthi Sreekuttan', 'Gu', 'Phoenix', and 'Ajayante Randam Moshanam', delivered remarkable work, yet none received the recognition they deserved.

Deva Nandha further added that she was deeply hurt by the jury's decision, especially since the chairman himself had spoken about giving more opportunities to children while failing to acknowledge their rights and efforts. The young actress urged open dialogue, stating that "Change shouldn't come by denying rights; it should come while protecting them."

Deva Nandha's statement has found support from filmmakers, including the director and co-writer-actor of 'Sthanaarthi Sreekuttan', who also criticized the jury's stance. The director, Vineesh Viswanath, posted the film's poster with a message highlighting the achievements of the child actors.