Goa: Kannada artists feel insulted in award ceremony

In an award ceremony hosted by a Telugu Magazine, artists associated with the Kannada film industry and other south Indians have felt humiliated. The artists were promised handsome prizes in the “Idhi Santohsam” program held in Goa before an untoward incident made them feel insulted. 

Sandalwood actor Ramesh Arvind who also participated in the program expressed his disappointment. “It is not just Kannada artists and actors, many people who had convened had faced difficulties. It was a problem common to South Indian artists. I am aware that there was some concern although I am not fully aware of what transpired,” he said. 

First awards pertaining to Telugu films were presented. Three or four awards were presented in the Kannada category. But by the time the ceremony continued the lights went off. The organisers apparently had pending electricity bills. The power supply was hence cut off during the event. Financial constraints led to this predicament. 

The young artists had a lot of expectations going into this event. They are expecting an apology from the organisers. A promise that such incidents will not repeat is also essential. The ceremony has been ongoing for 22 years. They had also promised that big stars from the Telugu film industry would attend this event. But none of them had turned up. Ramesh Arvind felt that this was a misuse of the platform.