Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Film Awards 2020 has been announced here on Saturday. Jayasurya has won best actor award for his stunning performance in ‘Vellam’. Anna Ben has bagged best actress award for ‘Kappela’. A jury headed by senior actress Suhasini selected the award winners.

‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ has been chosen as the best movie while ‘Ayyapanum Koshiyum’ selected as best popular movie.

Siddharth Siva has won the award for best director.

Minister Saji Cheriyan has announced the awards at a press meet held here. Awards jury chairperson Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Kerala Chalachithra Akademi chairman and jury members also attended the press meet.

The jury-headed by eminent actress Suhasini Maniratnam chose "Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam" directed by Senna Hegde as the second best film and Muhammad Musthafa, the director of "Kappela" was selected as the best debutant director.

Sudheesh and Srirekha were the best character artistes.

Renowned musician M Jayachandran bagged twin honours for the best music composition and background score for the movie "Sufiyum Sujathayum", while Shahabaz Aman and Nithya Memmen were the best singers in the male and female category.

Other prominent awards are: Chandru Selvaraj (best cinematographer), Anwar Ali (lyricist), Santhosh Raman (art director), Mahesh Narayan (editor), Rasheed Ahammed (make up artist) and so on.

The jury members said it was worth to mention that a total of 80 movies had been submitted for the awards in various categories despite the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic.

They also said there was stiff competition for the best actor and actress titles.

Besides jury members, the state film academy director Kamal also attended the press meet.

While the best director and director of the best film would get Rs two lakh, citation and a plaque each, the actor and actress would get Rs one lakh, citation and plaque each.

The awards would be presented at a function to be held here in December, the minister added.

List of award winners:

Best Actor- Jayasurya (Vellam)

Best Actress- Anna Ben (Kappela)

Best movie – ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ directed by Jeo Baby

Best Director –Sidharth Siva ( ‘Ennivar’)

Best second movie – ‘Thinkalazcha Nischayam’ directed by Senna Hegde

Best debutant director – Musthafa (‘Kappela’)

Best actor in a character role –Sudheesh (‘Ennivar’, ‘Bhoomiyile Manohara Sokaryam’)

Best actress in a character role – Srirekha (‘Veyil’)

Best popular movie –‘Ayyppanum Koshiyum’ directed by Sachy

Best child artiste male– Niranjan S (‘Kasiminite Kadal’)

Best Child artiste female – Aravya Varma (‘Pyali’)

Best playback singer female - Nithya Mammen

Best playback Singer male -Shahabaz Aman

 

(with added inputs from PTI)