The Western India Motion Picture and Television Sound Engineers Association (WIMPTSEA), an association for sound engineers, demanded the reinstatement of all three awards in a letter to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting.

“The National Sound Award has so far been given in three categories: production sound recording (dubbing), sound design and re-recording (final mixing). Professional sound work in all three categories is so important, but is not given the financial or industry recognition it deserves. So an individual award gives the award dignity and appropriate recognition,” the letter says.

All three sound engineering categories – production sound recording, sound design and re-recording – were included in the national award in 2010 after Resul won the Oscar, but from 2024 this award has been eliminated.

“The recent change in the national award categories in 2024 was such a shock that two of the awards were deleted and only one award was retained,” Pookutty said.

He added that the state awards in Kerala are given in three different categories: dubbing, sound mixing and sound design, with the top performers in all three categories being recognised.