Director Anand Patwardhan Donates His Rs 2 Lakh Prize Money To Wayanad Tragedy Victims

One of the prominent documentary filmmakers, Anand Patwardhan recently won the Best Long Documentary and Best Editing at the 16th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), which concluded here on Wednesday, July 31. The Jai Bhim Comrade director donated his cash prizes from the festival to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund in the wake of the Wayanad (Kerala) tragedy. The awards carried Rs 2 lakh for a long documentary and Rs 20,000 for best editing. He has won these awards for the film The World is Family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam). In the Wayanad tragedy, multiple landslides have caused massive destruction, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives. Anand Patwardhan’s film won the best long documentary award – which brought him Rs 2 lakh – as well as the best editing in a long documentary (which contains a cash prize of Rs 20,000. He donated the cash to the Chief Ministers’ Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). In his speech, the director said that his heart is with the people of the Wayanad and expressed hope that they will be able to start their lives afresh once again.

Malayalam celeb couple Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya Nazim also donated Rs 25 lakh to aid the victims. They released a press note confirming the contribution, writing, “We are making a donation of Rs 25 lakh to the CMDRF. We hope this modest contribution will help provide necessary assistance to those in dire need. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people as they navigate this difficult period. Together, we may endure and overcome.”

Malayalam actor Mammootty and his son and actor Dulquer Salmaan also donated Rs 35 lakh to the relief fund. Mammootty spoke to the press and said that at the moment, he has only contributed a small amount to the relief measures. Reportedly, his charitable trust is also helping those in dire need and has mobilised to provide essential items to the victims. This includes supplying food items, medicines, clothes and other important things.

As per a BBC report, these landslides are the worst disaster to occur in Kerala since 2018. In 2018, the floods killed more than 400 people.

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