Meenakshi Jayan wins Best Actress at Shanghai International Film Festival 2025 for Malayalam movie ‘Victoria’

Shanghai/Thiruvananthapuram: Meenakshi Jayan has been honoured with the Best Actress award in the Asian New Talent section at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) for her lead role in ‘Victoria’, a Malayalam indie film directed by debutant Sivaranjini J.

Landmark win for Indian indie cinema

Jayan’s win marks a remarkable moment for Indian independent cinema, with ‘Victoria’ standing as the only Indian film in competition at this year’s prestigious Golden Goblet Awards. The film, which had earlier made waves at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), is a character-driven portrait set in Kerala’s Angamaly chronicling a day in the life of a young beautician.

A day in the life of a beautician

In ‘Victoria’, Meenakshi portrays a Catholic woman caught between personal desire and familial expectation, as she prepares to elope with her Hindu boyfriend. A seemingly mundane event — the arrival of a neighbour’s rooster for a church festival — derails her plans, pushing her into moments of introspection and spiritual conflict.

The performance has already drawn critical acclaim at home, with Jayan being named Best Performer at the Independent and Experimental Film Festival of Kerala (IEFFK). Her commitment to the role included spending two months working at a beauty parlour and training extensively to master the local Angamaly dialect.

The film was produced with support from the Kerala State Film Development Corporation's Women Empowerment Grant and had its world premiere at the 29th IFFK, where it won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film by a Debut Director.

Immersed in life and rhythm of Angamaly

In an earlier interview, Meenakshi reflected on the experience, saying that immersing herself in the life and rhythm of Angamaly was crucial to portraying the character with authenticity. She had said that it was important for her not just to act, but to understand the daily grind, the aspirations and frustrations of women like Victoria.

Other notable winners at SIFF 2025

The Asian New Talent section at SIFF this year also recognised several other emerging voices in cinema. As the Water Flows from China, directed by Bian Zhuo, won Best Film, while Where the Night Stands Still fetched the Best Director award for Liryc Dela Cruz. Shi Pengyuan won Best Actor for Water Can Go Anywhere, another Chinese production.

In the festival’s main competition, Black Red Yellow from Kyrgyzstan won Best Feature Film. Other major honours included the Jury Grand Prix for Japan’s On Summer Sand and China’s Wild Nights, Tamed Beasts. The Best Director title went to Cao Baoping for One Wacky Summer, while Portugal-Brazil co-production The Scent of Things Remembered earned José Martins the Best Actor award. Wan Qian received the Best Actress award in the main competition for her performance in Wild Nights, Tamed Beasts.