Jani Master’s National Award suspended amid POCSO charges

National Award for Best Choreography for the 2022 film Thiruchitrambalam, saw his award suspended by the National Film Awards Cell under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Hyderabad: South Indian choreographer Jani Master has been in the news after he was arrested following allegations of sexual assault. Jani, who was set to receive the prestigious National Award for Best Choreography for the 2022 film Thiruchitrambalam, saw his award suspended by the National Film Awards Cell under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The National Film Awards Cell announced the suspension of the award conferred on Jani Master in wake of the ongoing investigation. The statement took a firm line on the seriousness of the allegations, observing that this case is presently sub judice. “The Competent Authority has taken the decision to suspend the National Film Award for Best Choreography for the Year 2022 for Shri Shaik Jani Basha until the dispensation of the case,” the statement concluded.

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The National Book Awards is no longer going to incur him any gratifier for an invitation to the celebration in New Delhi on October 8. Though he was granted interim bail, Jani’s attendance is still uncertain since investigations continue.