Choreographer Jani Master's National Award suspended amid sexual assault allegations

In a significant move, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has suspended choreographer Jani Master's National Film Award following serious sexual assault allegations. The accusations, filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, relate to an incident involving a minor in 2020.

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Jani Master, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, was initially invited to attend the prestigious 70th National Film Awards in New Delhi on October 8, 2024, where he was set to be honored for his choreography in the song "Megham Karukkatha" from the 2022 Tamil film Thiruchitrambalam. However, his invitation was officially revoked on October 4 after the allegations surfaced.

The National Film Awards Cell, in a statement, cited the seriousness of the charges and the ongoing court proceedings as reasons for suspending the award. "The Competent Authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award for Best Choreography for 2022 until further orders," the statement read.

The case, registered by Narsingi Police, stems from a complaint by Jani Master's former assistant, who accused him of sexual assault during a work trip to Mumbai in 2020. The assistant, later revealed to be a minor at the time, also claimed subsequent harassment. Jani Master is currently out on interim bail, with the legal process ongoing.