Support pours in for Nanchamma, as musician lectures on national award criteria for playback singer

Support poured in for Nanchamma, who recently won the National Film Award for Best Playback Singer (Female) following musician Linulal’s Facebook video pleading about why she was chosen.

According to Linulal, he doesn’t hold a grudge against Nanchamma nor like the song she sang in the film Ayyappanum Koshiyum. “But the prize should have been given to a good professional singer,” he said.

In his Facebook video, he explains the attributes and professional standards by which playback singers should be judged and calls his remarks “personal and open to criticism”. He pointed out that in his personal experience, Nanchamma cannot sing in a format requested by a music director or allied professional. However, he argued that “the jury should have awarded him a special jury prize, but not the prize for best playback singer.”

During his remarks, Linulal received criticism on social media. On the other hand, many showed their solidarity in Nanchamma.

Musicians like Jakes Bejoy (Music Director of Ayyappanum Koshiyum), Bijibal (Music Director), Alphons Joseph (Music Director) and Sithara Krishnakumar (Playback Singer) gave their support to Nanchamma by giving appropriate response to Linulal. Most of them took to social media and voiced their opinion in the comments section under Linulal’s Facebook video. Likewise, many citizens criticized the musician for having defended a “racist and elitist vision”.