The 54th Kerala State Film Awards have brought remarkable recognition to cinematic excellence, shining a spotlight on performances and productions that have moved audiences and critics alike. The big winners of the night were “Aadujeevitham” and “Kaathal – The Core,” taking home multiple honors and setting the standard for storytelling and craftsmanship in Malayalam cinema.
“Aadujeevitham,” a poignant narrative based on a real-life saga of human resilience amid unimaginable suffering, emerged as a top contender by securing a stunning nine awards. This film was notably honored with the prestigious Best Director award for Blessy and Best Actor for Prithviraj Sukumaran. The story of “Aadujeevitham,” which captures the essence of survival against odds, struck a chord with the jury and audience alike, making it a significant highlight of the awards ceremony.
Jeo Baby’s “Kaathal – The Core” also made a remarkable impact, winning the award for the Best Film and Best Story. This sensitive portrayal of homosexuality has not only won accolades but has also played a crucial role in fostering inclusive narratives in Indian cinema.
In the category of Best Actress, the award was shared by two talented actresses who delivered riveting performances. Urvashi, for her role in “Ullozhukku,” managed to portray the intricate emotional struggles of a mother coping with the unexpected loss of her son. Sharing this honor was Beena R. Chandran, whose role in Fazil Razak’s “Thadavu” showcased the resilience of a woman enduring a series of misfortunes. In a delightful coincidence, Razak’s skillful directorial debut was also acknowledged with the award for Best Debutant Director.
“Aadujeevitham” continued its winning streak in several other categories. Blessy was also awarded Best Adapted Screenplay, acknowledging the meticulous adaptation from its source material. The film’s visual storytelling was recognized with K.S. Sunil winning Best Cinematography. Adding to the accolades were Resul Pookutty and Sarath Mohan, who won the Best Sound Mixing award. The Special Jury Award (actor) was given to K.
.R. Gokul, Best Makeup Artist went to Ranjith Ambady, and Vaishal Shiva Ganesh clinched Best Processing Lab/Colourist.
“Iratta,” another standout film of the year, brought home the Best Original Screenplay award for Rohith M.G. Krishnan. This harrowing tale of twins whose lives diverge dramatically was also named Best Second Film. Jayadevan Chakkadath and Anil Radhakrishnan received the Best Sound Design award for their work on “Ullozhukku.”
The technical brilliance in Malayalam cinema was further underscored with Jude Anthany Joseph’s “2018,” which won Best Visual Effects for Andrew D Cruz and Vishak Babu, and Best Art Direction for Mohandas. “Little Miss Rawther” was honored for Best Editing thanks to Sangeeth Prathap’s seamless work.
Music also played a pivotal role in the awards, with Justine Varghese winning Best Music Award for “Chaaver,” and Mathews Pulickan taking home the Best Background Music Award for “Kaathal – The Core.” The veterans in the industry were not left behind, as music director Vidhyadharan Master won the Best Playback Singer Award for the song “Pathiranennorthoru Kanavil” from “Jananam 1947 Pranayam Thudarunnu,” and Ann Amie won for her song “Thinkalppoovin Ithalival” from “Pachuvum Albuthavilakkum.”
The Special Jury Awards were given to exemplary performances and efforts, with Sudhi Kozhikode winning for his role in “Kaithal” and Krishnan receiving recognition for his work in “Jaivam.” The Special Jury Award for women/transgender people went to Shalini Ushadevi for directing “Ennennum.”
A total of 160 films were submitted for these awards, setting a new record for submissions in the history of the Kerala State Film Awards. From this extensive pool, a preliminary jury shortlisted 35 films, and the final jury, led by filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, recalled three additional films for further consideration. Out of the 38 final contenders, an impressive 22 were made by debutants, showcasing fresh talent in the industry. Although four submissions were made in the children’s film category, none were deemed worthy of an award.
Announced by Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian, the awards presentation injected optimism and pride into Malayalam cinema, highlighting a year of compelling stories and outstanding performances that will leave an enduring impact on the industry.
This year’s Kerala State Film Awards underscored the richness and diversity of Malayalam cinema, celebrating the creative achievements that not only entertain but also provoke thought and evoke deep emotions.
