The much-anticipated 55th Kerala State Film Awards celebrated cinematic excellence with a grand announcement of winners. Presided over by Minister for Culture and Films, Saji Cherian, the ceremony recognized outstanding achievements in Malayalam cinema. The esteemed seven-member jury, headed by Prakash Raj, presented the top honors.
In a groundbreaking moment, Mammootty secured the Best Actor award for his performance in ‘Bramayugam,’ marking his seventh win in the category. This achievement surpasses previous records held by Mohanlal and Urvashi, who have six wins each. Mammootty’s past Best Actor awards were for his roles in ‘Adiyozhukkukal,’ ‘Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha,’ ‘Mrigaya,’ ‘Mahayanam,’ ‘Vidheyan,’ ‘Ponthan Mada,’ ‘Vatsalyam,’ ‘Kaazhcha,’ ‘Paleri Manikyam,’ and ‘Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam.’
The critically acclaimed film ‘Manjummel Boys’ was honored with the Best Film award, celebrating its compelling narrative and technical brilliance. The film’s director, Chidambaram S Poduval, also received recognition for his directorial vision.
Other notable winners include Shamla Hamza for Best Actor (Female) for ‘Feminichi Fathima,’ and Lijomol Jose for Best Character Artist (Female) in ‘Nadanna Sambhavam.’ Soubin Shahir and Sidharth Bharathan shared the award for Best Character Artist (Male) for their roles in ‘Manjummel Boys’ and ‘Bramayugam,’ respectively.
The jury also presented Special Jury Awards for Acting to Tovino Thomas and Asif Ali for ‘ARM’ and ‘Kishkindha Kaandam,’ and to Jyothirmayi and Darshana Rajendran for ‘Bougainvillea’ and ‘Paradise,’ respectively. ‘Feminichi Fathima’ was also recognized as the Best Second Film, and Fasil Muhammed won Best Debut Director for the same.
The complete list of winners includes:
- Best Actor (Male): Mammootty for ‘Bramayugam’
- Best Actor (Female): Shamla Hamza for ‘Feminichi Fathima’
- Best Director: Chidambaram S Poduval for ‘Manjummel Boys’
- Best Character Artist (Female): Lijomol Jose for ‘Nadanna Sambhavam’
- Best Character Artist (Male): Soubin Shahir (‘Manjummel Boys’) and Sidharth Bharathan (‘Bramayugam’)
- Special Jury Award for Acting (Male): Tovino Thomas and Asif Ali for ‘ARM’ and ‘Kishkindha Kaandam’
- Special Jury Award for Acting (Female): Jyothirmayi for ‘Bougainvillea’ and Darshana Rajendran for ‘Paradise’
- Best Second Film: ‘Feminichi Fathima’
- Best Debut Director: Fasil Muhammed for ‘Feminichi Fathima’
- Best Popular Film: ‘Premalu’
- Special Jury award for women/transgender people: Payal Kapadia for ‘All We Imagine As Light’
- Best Story: Prasanna Vithanage for ‘Paradise’
- Best Screenplay: Lajo Jose and Amal Neerad for ‘Bougainvillea’
- Best VFX: ‘ARM’
- Best Dance Choreographer: Sumesh Sunder, Jishnudas M.V. for ‘Bougainvillea’
- Best Costume Design: Sameera Saneesh for ‘Rekhachithram’ and ‘Bougainvillea’
- Best Makeup Artist: Ronex Xavier for ‘Bougainvillea’ and ‘Bramayugam’
- Best Sync Sound: ‘Pani’
- Best Music Director: Sushin Shyam for ‘Bougainvillea’
- Best Background Score: Christo Xavier for ‘Bramayugam’
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Lajo Jose and Amal Neerad for ‘Bougainvillea’
- Best Cinematography: Shyju Khalid for ‘Manjummel Boys’
- Best Lyricist (Male): Vedan for ‘Kuthanthram’ from ‘Manjummal Boys’
- Best Playback Singer (Female): Zeba Tommy for ‘Aarorum’ from ‘Am Ah’
- Best Playback Singer (Male): KS Harisankar for ‘Kiliye’ from ‘ARM’
- Best processing lab/colorist: Shree Warrier for ‘Manjummel Boys’ and ‘Bougainvillea’
- Best Sound Mixing: Fazal A.Backer, Shijin Melvin Hutton for ‘Manjummel Boys’
- Best Sound Design: Shibin Melvin and Abhishek Nair for ‘Manjummel Boys’
- Best Production Design: Ajayan Chalissery for ‘Manjummel Boys’
- Best Editor: Sooraj ES for ‘Kishkindha Kaandam’
- Best Art Direction: Ajayan Chalissery for ‘Manjummel Boys’
- Best Dubbing Artist (Female): Sayonara Philip for ‘Barroz’
- Best Dubbing Artist (M): Bhasi Vaikom for ‘Barroz’
- Best Book on Cinema: Penpaattu Thaarakal – Malayala Cinemapattukalile Pennaavishkaarangal by C.S. Meenakshi
- Best Article on Cinema: ‘Maayunna Nalukettukalum – Malayalam Cinemayum Maarunna Bhaavukathvangalum’ by Valsan Vathussery
- Special Jury Award for Article of Cinema: ‘Samayathinte Vistheernam’ by Noufal Mariyam Blathoor