Kannada director Hemanth Rao criticizes IIFA awards for not being transparent in their process, writes: "I dont need your award to...'

Kannada director Hemanth M Rao, who is known for his critically-acclaimed film Sapta Sagaradaache Ello (Side A and Side B), has criticised the IIFA awards for being disrespectful and not being transparent enough in their selection process. He said the makers made him sit for hours and then not gave him the award.

Hemanth wrote a long note on Instagram and accused the organisers of IIFA awards for making him wait till 3 am without any award. This year the IIFA awards were held at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and it honoured Hindi and south industries over the weekend.

IIFA Utsavam was held a day prior to the main awards.

"The whole IIFA experience was such a massive inconvenience and extremely disrespectful. I've been in this business for over a decade and this wasn't my first stint at award shows. It’s always been a case where the winners are flown in and hosted for the event. For context, I was sat till 3 AM in the morning only to realize there was no award. The same happened to my music director, Charan Raj,” he wrote.

Hemanth said he wasn't upset because he missed out on the award but there was lack of transparency in the process as the 'nominees were't even mentioned'.

"It’s your award. You can give it to whoever you want to. Thats your choice!! I haven't won MANY awards and haven’t lost sleep over it, so these grapes aren’t sour. If all the other nominees were invited and one winner emerged out of it. I wouldn’t bother getting irritated. Also, the format this year was just to hand out the award. The nominees weren't even mentioned.”

"Maybe it’s been a while for you and your team to realize it. Your award shows run on the talent that you put on your stage. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. I dont need your award to enjoy the best job in the world. Next time you need me on your stage... and TRUST ME...you will. Take your award and keep it where the sun don’t shine."

Hemanth also said that he didn't have any problem with fellow Kannada director Arun Sudhir winning over him. "And if it wasn't clear, I have no problem with @tharunsudhir winning. My best to him and his entire team. This is about wasting my time and energy," he added in his long note on Instagram.

One user commented on the post and wrote: "I knew this was a mafia/ rigged when Katera won the best music award. No offence for anyone. The award should be based on quality and not on popularity or anything. We know your quality of work Hemanth, you are the technician we want for our industry. We are with you."

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A post shared by Hemanth (@hemanthrao11)

Another user wrote: "One of the reasons kichcha sudeepa sir never attends awards, hemanth sir you are way more talented for any award ,the award doesn't deserve to be in your hands ,your level is way above all this sir."

IIFA awards were held from Sep 27-29 at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.