128 films, including ‘Bhramayugam’, ‘Barroz’ and ‘Pani’, in the race for Kerala State Film Awards

Thiruvananthapuram: A total of 128 films — including those that have earned international attention and box office crore‑level success — have been submitted to the State Film Awards Selection Committee. The preliminary jury has begun screening the films.

Among the entries are ‘All We Imagine as Light’ (which won a Palme d'Or at Cannes and garnered international acclaim), ‘Bhramayugam’ (which presents Mohanlal in an unseen avatar), ‘Barroz’ (directed by Mohanlal), ‘Malikotte’s Valiban’, ‘Manjummel Boys’ (the first Malayalam film to enter the ₹200 crore club), ‘Premalu’ (a new generation favourite), ‘Marko’ (a blockbuster despite criticism over cruelty), ‘Feminichi Fathima’ (which collected multiple IFFK awards) — and many others.

Actors such as Mammootty, Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, Vijay Raghavan, Asif Ali and Tovino Thomas are among the contenders for Best Actor. Kanikusruthi, Anaswara Rajan and Jyothirmayi are in the running for Best Actress.

The preliminary jury is organised into two subcommittees for the first round of selection. For the first time, a transgender person is included, as songwriter and poet Vijayaraj Mallika. Directors Ranjan Pramod and Jibu Jacob will chair the two subcommittees of the preliminary jury. They are also members of the final determination panel.

In the final jury chaired by Prakashraj, members include dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi, playback singer Gayatri Ashokan, sound designer Nithin Lucas and screenwriter and author Santhosh Echikkanam.

Newcomers include Mohanlal and Joju George! Of the 128 competing films, 53 are directed by first‑time filmmakers. One of the intriguing facts is that among the debutant directors is Mohanlal himself, with Barroz. Another is that Joju George — who previously won the state award for Best Actor — is directing a film called Pani.