Tovino, Nazriya, Rima Kallingal shine at Kerala Film Critics Awards; Full winners list inside

Thiruvananthapuram: Feminichi Fathima, directed by Fasil Muhammed and produced by Thamar K.V, Sudheesh, and Fasil Muhammed, has bagged the Best Film Award at the 48th Kerala Film Critics Awards for the year 2024.

Indu Lakshmi was named Best Director for the film Appuram, while Tovino Thomas received the Best Actor Award for his performances in Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM) and Anweshippin Kandethum. The Best Actress Award was jointly awarded to Nazriya Nazim for her role in Sookshmadarshini and Rima Kallingal for Theatre - The Myth of Reality.

The Kerala Film Critics Awards, regarded as the most prominent private film awards in the state apart from the Kerala State Film Awards, are determined by a jury through a process of entry submission and official screenings. This year’s jury was chaired by Dr. George Onakkur, with members Thekkinkad Joseph, Dr. Aravindan Vallachira, Dr. Jose K Manuel, and A. Chandrasekhar.

Lifetime Achievement & Ruby Jubilee Award

Veteran film critic and writer Vijayakrishnan was honoured with the Chalachitra Retnam Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating 50 years of contribution to film writing and cinema.

Actor and screenwriter Jagadeesh was presented with the Ruby Jubilee Award, instituted to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Kerala Film Critics Association, for his outstanding contribution to Malayalam cinema.

Chalachitra Prathibha Awards
The Chalachitra Prathibha Awards were conferred on:

• Seema (Actor)
• Babu Antony (Actor)
• Suhasini (Actor)
• Vipin Mohan (Cinematographer and Director)
• Jubilee Joy Thomas (Producer)
• Thyagarajan (Action Director)

Other Major Awards

Second Best Film: Sookshmadarshini (Directed by M.C. Jithin)

Best Director (Second Best Film): M.C. Jithin

Best Supporting Actor (Male):

• Saiju Kurup (Bharatanatyam, The Third Murder, Sthanarthi Sreekuttan)
• Arjun Ashokan (Anand Sreebala, Ennu Swantham Punyalan, Anpodu Kanmani)

Best Supporting Actor (Female):

• Shamla Hamza (Feminichi Fathima)
• Chinnu Chandini (Vishesham)

Special Jury Awards for Acting Excellence:

• Jaffer Idukki (Orubettavan, Qalb, Mandakini, Chattuli, Am A, Kuttante Shinigani, Anandapuram Diaries)
• Harilal (Karthavu Kriya Karmam, Prathimukham)
• Pramod Veliyanad (Kondal, Theatre – The Myth of Reality)

Best Child Artist:
Male: Master Angelo Christiano (Kalam Std V B)

Female: Baby Melisa (Kalam Std V B)

Technical & Creative Awards
Best Screenplay: Don Palathara & Sherin Catherine (Family)

Best Lyricist: Vasu Areekkode (Ramuvinte Manaivikal), Vishal Johnson (Prathimukham)

Best Music Director: Rajesh Vijay (Mayamma)

Best Playback Singer (Male): Madhu Balakrishnan (Om Swasthi… – Sukhino Bhavanthu)

Best Playback Singer (Female):

• Vaikom Vijayalakshmi (Angu Vaanakkonil… – ARM)
• Devananda Girish (Naattinidayana… – Sukhino Bhavanthu)

Best Cinematography: Deepak D Menon (Kondal)

Best Film Editor: Krishanth (Santharsha Khatana)

Best Sound Design: Resool Pookkutty, Lijo N. James, Robin Kunjukutti (Vadakkan)

Best Art Direction: Gokul Das (ARM)

Best Makeup: Gurpreet Kaur, Bhoobalan Murali (Barroz: The Guardian of Treasure)

Best Costume Design: Jyoti Madnani Singh (Barroz: The Guardian of Treasure)

Special Category Awards
Best Popular Film: Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM) (Director: Jithin Lal)

Best Children’s Films:

• Kalam Std V B (Director: Lijo Mithran Mathew)
• Sthanarthi Sreekuttan (Director: Vinesh Vishwanath)

Best Film on Women Empowerment: Her (Director: Lijin Jose)

Best Film on National Integration: Najas (Director: Sreejith Poyikkaavu)

Best Environmental Films:

• Aadachayi (Director: Dr. Binoy S. Russel)
• The Life of Mangrove (Director: N.N. Baiju)

Best Film with Social Relevance:

• Prathimukham (Director: Vishnu Vardhan)
• Jeevan (Director: Vinod Narayanan)
• Izha (Director: Siraj Reza)

Best Film with a Message:

• Mashippachayum Kallupencilum (Director: M. Venukumar)
• Swargam (Director: Rejis Antony)

Best Sanskrit Films:

• Ekaki (Director: Prasad Parappuram)
• Dharmayodha (Director: Shruthi Simon)

Best Other Language Film:

Amaran (Produced by Rajkamal Films International, Directed by Rajkumar Periasamy)

Best Debut Awards

• Best Debut Director: Vishnu K. Mohan (Iruniram)
• Best Debut Actor: Neha Nasnin (Qalb)

Special Jury Awards
Direction: Shan Kecheri (Swachanda Mrithyu)

Acting:

• Dr. Manoj Govindan (Najas)
• Adarsh Sabu (Swasam)
• Sreekumar R. Nair (Nayakan Prithwi)
• Satheesh Perambra (Puthiya Niram)
• Scriptwriting: Archana Vasudev (Her)