The 55th Kerala State Film Awards have been announced, with Malayalam cinema’s stalwarts and critically acclaimed films taking center stage. The prestigious awards were revealed by Minister for Culture and Films, Saji Cherian, during a ceremony in Thrissur. Mammootty achieved a landmark victory, clinching the Best Actor (Male) award for his role in ‘Bramayugam’, marking his seventh win in this category and breaking the existing record previously held by Mohanlal and Urvashi.
The jury, chaired by veteran actor Prakash Raj, recognized ‘Manjummel Boys’ as the Best Film, a cinematic work that has resonated widely with audiences and critics alike. The film’s director, Chidambaram S Poduval, was also honored with the Best Director award for his compelling storytelling.
Adding to the night’s achievements, Shamla Hamza was awarded Best Actor (Female) for her performance in ‘Feminichi Fathima’. The film also secured the Best Second Film award, highlighting its significance in the cinematic landscape. Other notable wins included Lijomol Jose for Best Character Artist (Female) and Soubin Shahir and Sidharth Bharathan for Best Character Artist (Male).
The awards also recognized emerging talent, with Fasil Muhammed winning Best Debut Director for ‘Feminichi Fathima’. ‘Premalu’ was celebrated with the Best Popular Film award, acknowledging its widespread appeal.
In a significant nod to creative excellence, several technical awards were presented. Shyju Khalid received the award for Best Cinematography for ‘Manjummel Boys’, while Sushin Shyam was honored for Best Music Director for ‘Bougainvillea’. The award for Best Screenplay went to Lajo Jose and Amal Neerad for ‘Bougainvillea’, and the team behind ‘ARM’ was recognized for Best VFX.
The comprehensive list of winners reflects the vibrant and diverse talent within the Malayalam film industry, celebrating both established stars and new voices.
Key Winners at the 55th Kerala State Film Awards:
- Best Film: Manjummel Boys
- 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’)
- Best Popular Film: Premalu
- Best Cinematography: Shyju Khalid for ‘Manjummel Boys’
- Best Music Director: Sushin Shyam for ‘Bougainvillea’
Explore more about Malayalam cinema and other film awards.