Jani Master’s National Award suspended amid sexual assault allegations

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 scheduled to receive the award for his work on the song Megham Karukkatha from the Tamil film Thiruchitrambalam during the 70th National Film Awards on October 8 in New Delhi. The choreographer was recently arrested in Goa in relation to the sexual assault case and had subsequently been granted interim bail to attend the awards ceremony.

A notification issued by the National Film Awards Cell on October 4 said, “In view of the gravity of the allegation and the facts of the case, the competent authority has decided to suspend the National Film Awards for Best Choreography for the year 2022.” Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the Film Thiruchitrambalam until further notice. Therefore, the invitation extended to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the 70th National Film Awards Ceremony to be held on 8.10.24 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi is hereby withdrawn.”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. Police registered a case against him on September 15, which later included charges under the POCSO Act as the assistant was a minor at the time.