Jitesh Pillai, journalist and editor of Filmfare magazine, slammed National Award jury members, including chairman Ashutosh Gowarikar, for presenting two awards to the 2023 film, The Kerala Story. Calling it "one of the worst movies ever made", he accused it of selling blatant propaganda, and Pillai received support from actresses Sonakshi Sinha and Dia Mirza, among others.