THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted filmmaker and screenwriter Deedi Damodaran on Wednesday criticised the Kerala State Film Awards jury for honouring rapper Hirandas Murali, who has been accused in a rape case.

Murali, popularly known as Vedan, was named Best Lyricist in the recently announced 2024 Kerala State Film Awards for his song in the blockbuster film Manjummel Boys.

The award winners were selected by a jury chaired by actor Prakash Raj.

In a Facebook post, Damodaran acknowledged that the line “viyarppu thunnititta kuppayam” (“the shirt stitched with sweat”) from Vedan’s song was “magnificent”.