In a stunning showcase of cinematic brilliance, the 54th Kerala State Film Awards crowned ‘Aadujeevitham’ and ‘Kaathal – The Core’ as the night’s big winners, with both films taking home several prestigious awards. These victories underscore the robust storytelling and innovative filmmaking that Malayalam cinema continues to deliver.
‘Aadujeevitham’, a harrowing tale inspired by a real-life saga of human resilience amidst severe suffering, emerged as a monumental film of the evening. Winning an impressive nine awards, ‘Aadujeevitham’ secured the illustrious title of Best Director for Blessy and Best Actor for Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film’s profound narrative and exceptional performances were acknowledged, setting a high benchmark for future films.
Similarly, ‘Kaathal – The Core,’ directed by Jeo Baby, triumphed as a sensitive and nuanced exploration of homosexuality, taking home the awards for Best Film and Best Story. The critical acclaim for ‘Kaathal – The Core’ highlights the film industry’s evolving acceptance of diverse narratives and complex societal themes.
Veteran actress Urvashi delivered a riveting performance in ‘Ullozhukku’, portraying a woman grappling with intense emotional trauma following her son’s death. Her compelling depiction earned her the Best Actress award, a title she shared with Beena R. Chandran. Chandran was honored for her intense role in ‘Thadavu,’ a film directed by Fazil Razak, which also garnered Razak the award for Best Debutant Director.
The accolades did not end there for ‘Aadujeevitham.’ The film racked up additional awards in several categories including Best Popular Film and Best Adapted Screenplay for Blessy. K.S. Sunil was recognized with the Best Cinematography award, while K.R. Gokul received a Special Jury Award for his acting talents. Notably, the film also won in technical categories, with Resul Pookutty and Sarath Mohan taking the award for Best Sound Mixing, Ranjith Ambady for Best Makeup Artist, and Vaishal Shiva Ganesh for Best Processing Lab/Colourist.
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Another film that stood out at the awards was ‘Iratta,’ a heart-wrenching narrative about twin brothers whose lives diverge dramatically. Rohith M.G. Krishnan’s poignant storytelling earned him the Best Original Screenplay Award, while ‘Iratta’ also bagged the Best Second Film title. The impeccable sound design by Jayadevan Chakkadath and Anil Radhakrishnan for ‘Ullozhukku’ was also celebrated with the Best Sound Design Award.
‘2018,’ directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, won praise for its visual accomplishments. The award for Best Visual Effects went to Andrew D Cruz and Vishak Babu, while Mohandas received recognition for his superior art direction. The film ‘Little Miss Rawther’ stood out in the editing category with Sangeeth Prathap’s efforts earning the Best Editing Award.
In the realm of music, Justine Varghese was honored with the Best Music Award for ‘Chaaver,’ while Mathews Pulickan’s evocative compositions in ‘Kaathal – The Core’ earned him the Best Background Music Award. Celebrated music director Vidhyadharan Master received the Best Playback Singer Award for his soulful rendition of ‘Pathiranennorthoru Kanavil’ from ‘Jananam 1947 Pranayam Thudarunnu.’ Ann Amie also shined in the same category for her melodious performance in ‘Thinkalppoovin Ithalival’ from ‘Pachuvum Albuthavilakkum.’
The Special Jury (actor) Awards went to Sudhi Kozhikode for his role in ‘Kaithal’ and to Krishnan for his performance in ‘Jaivam.’ Furthermore, Shalini Ushadevi’s direction of ‘Ennennum’ earned her the Special Jury Award for women/transgender filmmakers, showcasing the diversity and inclusivity of the award panel.
The announcement of the awards was made by Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian in an event attended by the jury members. The jury, led by esteemed filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, included notable figures such as Alagappan N, Lijo Jose Pellissery, Sreevalsan J Menon, Priyanandan TR, C Ajoy, NS Madhavan, and Ann Augustine. This year’s awards saw a record-breaking number of 160 submissions, with 38 films making the final list — 22 of which were debut works. Even though there were four submissions in the children’s film category, no awards were granted as the submissions did not meet the required standards.
The Kerala State Film Awards continues to celebrate the dynamic and ever-growing Malayalam cinema, ensuring the recognition of exceptional talent and innovative storytelling year after year.
