The Kerala State Film Awards 2024 have been announced, stirring excitement across the film industry and among enthusiasts. This year’s awards celebrated exceptional talents and cinematic achievements in Malayalam cinema, highlighting outstanding performances, creative storytelling, and technical prowess. The announcement has generated significant buzz, with the winners receiving well-earned recognition for their contributions. Let’s review the complete list of nominees and winners for this year.
Kerala State Film Awards Winners
Prithviraj Sukumaran secured the Best Actor award for his role in director Blessy’s ‘Aadujeevitham’. The Best Actress award was shared between Urvashi, for her performance in Christo Tomy’s ‘Ullozhukku’, and Beena R Chandran, for her role in ‘Thadavu’. Mammootty’s film ‘Kaathal – The Core’ was named Best Picture. Director Blessy was honored with the Best Director award for ‘Aadujeevitham’.
The jury was led by veteran director Sudhir Mishra. Priyanandanan as cinematographer Alagappan, director Lijo Jose Pellissery, and writer NS Madhavan also serving as jurors. Out of an initial 160 films, the shortlist was narrowed down to fewer than fifty in the final round.
Prithviraj Sukumaran earned the Best Actor award for his portrayal in Blessy’s ‘Aadujeevitham’. Urvashi, with her role in ‘Ullozhukku’, and Beena R Chandran, for her performance in ‘Thadavu’, shared the Best Actress accolade. This marks Urvashi’s sixth National Award.
‘Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life’, directed by Blessy, is an adaptation of the acclaimed 2008 Malayalam novel by Benyamin. The film tells the story of Najeeb. A Malayali immigrant laborer who is forced into slavery in Saudi Arabia.
‘ULLozhukku’, directed and written by Christo Tomy, is a drama starring Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu. The film explores the revelations between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law after the death of the man in their family.
Beena R Chandran received high praise for her role in director Fazil Razak’s ‘Thadavu’, which hit theaters in 2023.
Among the 160 films considered. 84 are directed by debutants. The jury noted the impressive variety of films in 2023. Films like ‘Kaathal – The Core’, ‘Ullozhukku’, ‘Aadujeevitham‘, ‘Pookalam’, ‘Thadavu’, and others received accolades from the state government.
List Of The Winners
Best Actor: Prithviraj Sukumaran (Aadujeevitham)
Best Actress: Urvashi (Ullozhukku) & Beena R Chandran (Thadavu)
Best Film Kaathal: The Core
Best Director: Blessy (Aadujeevitham)
Best Movie: Kaathal: The Core
Best Second Movie: Iratta
Best Supporting Actor: Vijayaraghavan (Pookkalam)
Special Jury Award (acting): Krishnan (Jaivam)
Special Jury Award (acting): KR Gokul (Aadujeevitham)
Special Jury Award (acting): Sudhi Kozhikode (Kaathal: The Core)
Special Jury Award (film): Gaganachari
Special Jury Award (women): Shalini Usha Devi (Ennennum)
Special Jury Award (visual effects): 2018
Best debutant director: Fazil Rasak (Thadavu)
Best Film providing wholesome entertainment: Aadujeevitham
Best Dubbing Artist (male): Roshan Mathew (Ullozhukku, Vaalatti)
Best Dubbing Artist (female): Sumangala (Jananam 1947 Pranayam Thudarunnu)
Best Costume Designer: Femina Jabbar (O Baby)
Best Makeup Artist: Ranjith Ambadi (Aadujeevitham)
Best Processing Lab/Colorist: Aadujeevitham
Best Sound Design: Jayadevan Chakkadath, Anil Radhakrishnan (Ullozhukku)
Best Sound Mixing: Resul Pookutty, Sharath Mohan (Aadujeevitham)
Best Synch Sound: Shameer Ahammad (O Baby)
Best Art Direction: Mohandas (2018)
Best Editing: Sangeeth Pramod (Little Miss Rawther)
Best Playback Singer (female): Ann Amy (Thinkalpoovil – Paachuvum Athbhuthavilakkum)
Best Playback Singer (male): Vidyadharan master (Pathiranennu – Jananam 1947 Pranayam Thudarunnu)
Best Music Direction (background score): Mathews Pulikkan (Kaathal: The Core)
Best Music Direction (song): Justin Varghese (Chenthamara – Chaaver)
Best Lyricist: Hareesh Mohanan (Chenthamara – Chaaver)
Best Screenplay (Adaptation): Blessy (Aadujeevitham)
Best Screenplay (original): Rohit MG Krishnan
Best Cinematographer: Sunil KS (Aadujeevitham)
Best Story: Aadarsh Sukumaran (Kaathal: The Core)
Best Child Artist (female): Thennal Abhilash (Shesham Mikeil Fathima)
Best Child Artist (male): Avyukth Menon (Paachuvum Athbhuthavilakkum)