Indian choreographer, Shaik Jani Basha was set to win the Best Choreography Award for the song Megham Karukatha, the song from Thiruchitrambalam (2022). In the wake of allegations of sexual assaulting a minor, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting suspended choreographer Jani Master's National Film Award, until further orders.
The invitation for him to attend the 70th National Film Awards scheduled to be held on October 8 in New Delhi has also been withdrawn by the National Film Award cell. Reportedly, the invitation was sent before the allegations under the POCSO Act was surfaced.
The allegations against Jani Master
The choreographer was apprehended for allegedly sexually assaulting his assistant in 2020, during a work trip to Mumbai and continued to sexually harass her and threaten her not to disclose it to anyone. According to the reports, she was said to be a minor at the time of the alleged offence.
On September 15, the Narsingi Police registered a case against the choreographer under sections 376(2)(n), 506, 323 of IPC (related to rape, causing hurt and other offences). Later on recording the statement of the victim, Jani Master it was revealed that she was a minor at the time of the alleged offence, therefore, a section of the POCSO Act was added to the case. On September 19, Jani was apprehended in Goa by the Cyberabad Police and was brought to Hyderabad. He was produced before a city court which has remanded him to 14-day judicial custody.
By and large, in a long-overdue move, the bold decision of suspending Jani's National Film Award comes as a relief to the victims and sends a strong message that sexual predators will no longer be shielded by their fame or influence. Jani Masters' illustrious career, adorned with a National Award, had seemingly protected him from accountability. However, the courage of the survivors and the relentless pursuit of justice have finally caught up with him. This suspension serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, and the Ministry's swift action is a testament to the growing intolerance for sexual misconduct in India's entertainment industry. The path to justice is long and arduous, but this decision marks a crucial step toward holding perpetrators accountable and creating a safer environment for all.
