Udupi: Actor and Film Maker Prakash Rai received the Kota Shivaram Karanth Huttura Prashasti yesterday at Kota in the district amid protests by members of right-wing groups, including the BJP Yuva Morcha, close to the venue of the function.

Replying to questions from reporters after receiving the award at the Kota Shivaram Karanth Theme Park, Rai said there was a systematic pattern being followed to frighten people by trolling them and focussing on their personal lives. The intention is to make those who question feel lovely, he said. He further said that he was delighted to receive the award. On leaders of political parties staying away from the function, he said, he was not interested in political issues and his issue was that there should be freedom of expression in the society.

Earlier speaking at the awards function, Rai apologised to the audience if any inconvenience was caused to them because of recent incidents. Those wanting to protest should be allowed to do so, but protests should not be derogatory, he added.