Thiruvananthapuram: The much-awaited 55th Kerala State Film Awards will be announced today, November 3 (Monday), in Thrissur. The media meet is scheduled for 3:30 pm, marking the culmination of weeks of anticipation in the Malayalam film industry.

Delay and venue shift

Originally slated for October 31, the announcement was postponed due to pending film screenings and a special legislative assembly session. The venue was shifted to Thrissur, considering the convenience of the Minister of Cinema and Culture.

Jury chairman’s schedule influences rescheduling

The new date was also finalised to accommodate jury chairman Prakash Raj, who had urgent travel plans to Bangalore. Organisers noted that the adjustment was made to ensure full jury participation in the final deliberations and announcement.

Fierce competition and top contenders

The 2024 awards are expected to see intense competition across major categories.

According to reports, Mammootty and Asif Ali are in the final round for the Best Actor award. The film enthusiast is keenly watching whether Mammootty will bag another state award for his performance as Kodumon Potti in Bramayugam.

Asif Ali is also a strong contender for his outstanding performances in Kishkindha Kaandam and Level Cross. After the preliminary jury’s evaluation, 38 films have been shortlisted for the final round of consideration.

Interestingly, Mohanlal is also competing for the Best Debut Director award. Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Shamla Hamza are among the frontrunners for the Best Actress categoryAnaswara Rajan, Jyothirmayi, and Surabhi Lakshmi are also on the potential winners’ list.