Kumbalangi Nights, Lijo Jose Pellissery, Kani Kusruti win at the 50th Kerala State Film Awards

After a delay of several months, the 50th Kerala State Film Awards were finally announced at a press conference today by cultural affairs minister AK Balan. The jury for this year’s edition was chaired by cinematographer Madhu Ambat.

The jury members included filmmaakers Salim Ahmed and Abrid Shine, actress Jomol, cinematographer Vipin Mohan, playback singer Lathika, editor L Bhoominathan, sound engineer S Radhakrishnan, writer Benyamin and Chalachithra Academy member secretary C Ajoy. The jury had been assembled in March before the nationwide lockdown came into effect. A total of 119 films that were released in 2019 were in competition.

Vasanthi, a story about a woman's fight for survival, was named Best Film. The experimental film directed by brothers Shinos Rahman and Sajas Rahman also won the award for Best Screenplay (Original).

Veteran Suraj Venjaramoodu was selected Best Actor for his work on Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 and Vikruthi, while Kani Kusruti was named Best Actress for Sajin Babu's Biriyaani, her second award for the performance this month.

Lijo Jose Pellissery picked up his second Best Director win for his latest Jallikkattu (2019). He had won it previously for Ee Ma Yau (2018). The crowd pleaser Kumbalangi Nights won three awards, Best Character Actor for Fahadh Faasil, Best Music Director for Sushin Shyam and Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value.

The only love is true love: Madhu Narayanan on his directorial debut Kumbalangi Nights

Actress Anna Ben and Priyamvadha Krishna were named for a Special Jury mention for their performances in Helen and Thottappan, respectively, while actor Nivin Pauly was singled out for his work in Geetu Mohandas’s Moothon.

Here is the full list of winners for this year.

Best Film — Vasanthi
Second Best Film — Kenjira
Best Actor — Suraj Venjaramoodu, Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 and Vikruthi
Best Actress — Kani Kusruti, Biriyani
Best Director — Lijo Jose Pellissery, Jallikkattu
Best Character Actor — Fahadh Faasil, Kumbalangi Nights
Best Character Actress — Swasika, Vasanthi
Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value — Kumbalangi Nights
Best Children’s Film — Nani
Best Screenplay (Original) — Rahman Brothers, Vasanthi
Best Screenplay (Adapted) — PS Rafeeque, Thottappan
Best Child Artiste (Male) — Vasudev Sajeesh Mara, Sullu and Kallanottam
Best Child Artiste (Female) — Catherine Biji, Nani
Best Debut Director — Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval, Android Kunjappan Version 5.25
Best Music Director — Sushin Shyam, Kumbalangi Nights
Best Male Singer — Najim Arshad
Best Female Singer — Madhusree Narayanan
Best Editor — Kiran Das, Ishq
Best Cinematography — Prathap V Nair, Kenchira
Best Male Dubbing Artiste — Vineeth, Lucifer and Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham
Best Female Dubbing Artiste — Shruthi Ramachandran, Kamala
Best Make-up — Ranjith Ambady, Helen
Best Costume Designer — Ashokan Alappuzha, Kenchira
Best Art Director — Jyothish Sankar, Kumbalangi Nights and Android Kunjappan Version 5.25
Special Jury Award

Acting — Nivin Pauly for Moothon, Anna Ben for Helen, Priyamvadha Krishna for Thottappan
Music — V Dakshinamoorthy
Film — Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham