Kerala’s Minister for Film Development Corporation and Chalachitra Academy Saji Cheriyan on Saturday announced the winners of the Kerala State Film Awards 2020. The jury for the 51st edition of the awards was headed by actor-filmmaker Suhasini Maniratnam.
Despite all the obstacles caused by the pandemic, the competition saw as many as 80 movies competing for awards in various categories compared to 119 entries in the last edition.
As expected, director Jeo Baby’s path-breaking family drama The Great Indian Kitchen was announced as the best film. And Jeo Baby also bagged the award for the best screenplay (original).
Late director K. R. Sachidanandan aka Sachy’s blockbuster movie Ayyappanum Koshiyum won the award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value. Jayasurya took home the Best Actor (Male) award for his performance as an alcoholic in Vellam. And Anna Ben won the Best Actor (Female) for her performance in Kappela.
Minister Saji Cheriyan noted that the distribution of awards and the prize money will take place in December.
Here is the list of winners of the 51st Kerala State Film Awards:
Best Film – The Great Indian Kitchen by Jeo Baby
Second Best Film – Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam by Senna Hegde
Best Picture of Popularity and Art Value – Ayyappanum Koshyum by K. R. Sachidanandan
Best Director – Sidhartha Siva, Ennivar
Best Actor – Jayasurya, Vellam
Best Actress – Anna Ben, Kappela
Best Character Actor (Male) – Sudheesh, Ennivar
Best Character Actor (Female): Sreerekha, Veyil
Best Child Artist (Male) – Neeranjan S, Kasiminte Kada
Best Child Artist (Female) – Arravya Sharma
Best Story – Senna Hegde, Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam
Best Cinematographer- Chandru Selvaraj, Kayattam
Best Lyricist: Anwar Ali for Malik and Bhoomiyile Manohara Swakaryam
Best Children’s Film: Bonamy by Tony Sukumar
Best Screenplay (Original) – The Great Indian Kitchen by Jeo Baby
Best Debut Director – Muhammed Mustafa, Kappela
Best Music Director – M Jayachandran, Sufiyum Sujatayum
Best Male Singer – Shahabaz Aman, Vellam and Hallal Love Story
Best Female Singer – Nithya Mammen, Sufiyum Sujatayum
Best Background Music – M Jayachandran, Sufiyum Sujatayum
Best Editor – Mahesh Narayanan, CU Soon
Best Art Director- Santhosh Raman, Malik and Pyali
Best Sync Sound: Adarsh Jospeh Cheriyan, Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam
Colourist – Biju Prabhakar, Kayattam
Best Choreography: Lalitha Sobi and Babu Xavier, Sufiyum Sujatayum
Best Male Dubbing Artist : Shobi Thilakan, Bhoomiyile Manohara Swargayajyam
Best Female Dubbing Artist: Riya Sairra, Ayyappanum Koshiyum
Best Make up: Rasheed Ahamed, Article 21
Best Costume Designer: Dhanya Balakrishnan, Malik
Visual Effects: Sariyas Mohammad, Love
Special Jury mentions – Nalini Jameela for costume designing in Bharatapuzha, Nanjiamma for singing Kalakkatha in Ayyappanum Koshiyum and actor Siji Pradeep for his performance in Bharathpuzha.