In a significant development, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced on Friday the suspension of choreographer Jani Master’s National Film Award due to rape allegations against him. Jani Master, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, was recently released from prison following accusations of sexually assaulting a woman who worked with him.
Jani had been awarded the prestigious National Award for Best Choreography for the popular song Megham Karukkatha from the film Thiruchitrambalam. The award was shared with fellow choreographer Sathish Krishnan. However, in light of the ongoing legal proceedings, the ministry decided to revoke his award temporarily.
The official statement issued by the National Film Awards Cell and signed by Deputy Director Indrani Bose stated, “In view of the seriousness of the allegation and the matter being subjudice, the Competent Authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award of the Best Choreography for the Year 2022 to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the film Thiruchitrambalam until further orders.”
This suspension comes as a major setback for Jani Master, who has been a prominent figure in the South Indian film industry. The case remains under judicial review, and further updates on the award’s status are expected once legal proceedings conclude.