The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to suspend the National Film Award for choreographer Jani Master due to allegations of sexual assault. Jani Master, whose real name is Shaik Jani Basha, was set to receive the award for his work on the song Megham Karukkatha from the Tamil film Thiruchitrambalam during the 70th National Film Awards in New Delhi on October 8. The choreographer was arrested in Goa recently in respect to the sexual assault case and had then been granted interim bail to attend the awards ceremony. 

A note from the National Film Awards Cell, dated October 4, stated: “In view of the seriousness of the allegation and the matter being subjudice, the Competent Authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award of the Best Choreography for the Year 2022 to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the film Thiruchitrambalam until further orders. Hence, the invitation extended to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the 70th National Film Awards Function to be held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 8.10.24 is hereby withdrawn.”

The allegations were made by a former assistant of Jani Master, who claimed she was sexually assaulted during a work trip in 2020. The police registered a case against him on September 15, which later included charges under the POCSO Act since the assistant was a minor at the time.

The excitement for Singham Again is building as fans eagerly await the trailer set to drop tomorrow. Before its release, filmmaker Rohit Shetty shared the first glimpse of Ajay Devgn in his iconic role as Bajirao Singham. This sneak peek has taken the internet by storm, fuelling anticipation for the upcoming film, which hits theatres this Diwali.

In the special video, Shetty reflected on the journey of the film franchise, saying, “Humne shuruaat ki, aapne honsla badhaya, humne dil se mehnat ki, aapne gale se lagaya.” He emphasized the bond between the audience and the film, highlighting that “when the world was scared, you stood by us.” The video showcases memorable moments from previous films in the cop universe, including Singham, Simmba, and Sooryavanshi, along with fan reactions.