Announcement of National Awards tends to evoke controversies, and it is no exception when the Best Actor award becomes the point of contention. Some winners are lauded, while others tend to create heated debates. This time, Shah Rukh Khan’s Best Actor award for Jawan has triggered a wave of dissent. No one is doubting Shah Rukh’s status as a great actor, but many are of the opinion that his Jawan performance does not rightly deserve the National Award. The character, after all, is a reflection of the numerous commercial roles he has acted over the years. With the list of great performances this year, some question whether or not his victory is fully justified.
In the previous year, cinema presented us with a plethora of truly great performances across different languages. In fact, one of the performances was something so extraordinary, that it had everyone stunned, and that was Prithviraj Sukumaran in Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life. His performance as Najib—a man who secures a job in Saudi Arabia, is deceived, endures atrocities of slavery, and just manages to escape after unbelievable struggles—was a performance of unmatched magnitude. Prithviraj’s commitment to this character was unbelievable, with the actor dedicating more than four years to the project. He even lost 31 kg in order to truly become the character.
What makes Prithviraj different is that he did not just portray the character of Najib, he lived the part. His performance was so visceral and get me, as messy as it was, it went well with everything. From portraying a man trying to survive to projecting his personal distress, Prithviraj allowed the audience to forget they were looking at a superstar. In some of the scenes that were way too intense, his acting caused people to shed tears. Most believe Prithviraj’s performance in Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life is deserving of the National Award, though Vikram’s acting in Thangalaan was similarly as commendable, Prithviraj’s believability and emotion was far more plausible. Honoring Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan over these outstanding performances is a wasted chance and has many wondering if the decision was fair.
This year’s National Award talks have highlighted the increasing necessity of honoring real, game-changing performances that transcend commercial cinema. As audiences grow and change, so too must the recognition of performances that push an actor to their limits and connect on a more profound, emotional level.