The recent exclusion of sound mixing and sync sound categories from the National Film Awards has ignited a heated controversy, with various audiographers’ unions and sound designers decrying the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry for making this decision unilaterally and without any form of consultation. This change, announced via the notification inviting entries for the National Awards 2022, has replaced the three individual sound categories with just a single category for Best Sound Designer, causing significant commotion within the film industry.
Historically, the National Film Awards have recognized excellence in audiography through a singular award. This format was maintained until 2008. In 2009, however, the Ministry saw value in diversifying the acknowledgment of sound work in films, hence, the Best Audiography award was segregated into three distinct categories: Best Location Sound Recordist, Best Sound Designer, and Best Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track. This division recognized the diverse skill sets involved in cinematic sound, from capturing on-location dialogues to the intricate mixing processes that define a film’s auditory experience.
Respected sound designer Resul Pookutty, who clinched the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing in 2009, was vocal in his criticism of the decision. He expressed his dismay during an interview with The Hindu, labeling the decision as illogical and indicative of a significant lack of understanding of the nuances of sound in cinema. He stressed that there were prior instances where films that did not utilize sync sound (the practice of recording sound simultaneously with the filming) were nonetheless awarded for it, pointing out the need to correct such oversights rather than eliminating entire categories. Pookutty emphasized that they have been fruitlessly attempting to arrange meetings with ministry officials to explain the injustice being meted out to sound professionals.
Adding to the critical voices, Jikku M. Joshi, who handled the production sound mixing for the National Award-winning film “Aattam,” described the elimination of these awards as demotivating and discriminatory.
. Joshi contended that the art of production sound is indispensable. If a production sound mixer fails to accurately capture dialogue and sound effects on location, the sound designer faces significant challenges in creating a compelling and cohesive auditory narrative. Moreover, the sound mixing engineer plays a crucial role in determining how the film sounds in theaters and on streaming platforms. Each of these roles requires specialized skills and contributes distinctively to the film’s auditory experience, thus the elimination of any one role from this process is deemed unfair, according to Joshi.
Ajith Abraham George, a Sound Mixing Engineer and the vice president of the Cine Audiographers Association of Kerala, echoed similar sentiments. He revealed that representations concerning the National Awards’ notification were sent from the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), along with sound engineers’ unions in Chennai and Mumbai. However, none of these efforts have elicited a response from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the Directorate of Film Festivals, or the National Film Awards Cell. George questioned the process behind the decision, asking which committee or experts the government consulted before deciding to drop these awards. Notably, the Kerala State Film Awards continue to honor excellence in sound across the three separate categories, underscoring a contrasting approach to the national policy.
The film industry professionals argue that this sweeping change undermines the contributions of specialized trades within the realm of sound in cinema, each of which possesses its own set of technical challenges and artistic nuances. As the debate continues, the sound design community stands united in urging the authorities to reconsider and reinstate the dropped categories to ensure that the multifaceted craft of sound in cinema receives its rightful recognition. The industry eagerly awaits a dialogue with the responsible officials, hoping for a resolution that honors the rich diversity of talent contributing to the cinematic experience.
