Kerala Minister for Film Development Corporation and Chalachitra Academy Saji Cheriyan announced the winners of the Kerala State Film Awards 2020 on Saturday. The jury for the 51st edition of the awards was chaired by actor-filmmaker Suhasini Maniratnam.
Despite all the obstacles caused by the pandemic, the competition saw up to 80 films competing for prizes in various categories compared to 119 entries in the last edition.
As expected, director Jeo Baby’s groundbreaking family drama The Great Indian Kitchen has been announced as Best Picture. And Jeo Baby also won the award for Best Screenplay (Original).
The late director KR Sachidanandan a.k.a. Sachy Ayyappanum Koshiyum’s hit film won the award for best film with popular appeal and aesthetic value. Jayasurya won “Best Actor” (Male) for his performance as an alcoholic in the biopic drama Vellam. And Anna Ben won the award for best actor (female) for her performance in Kappela.
Minister Saji Cheriyan noted that the distribution of the awards and prize money will take place in December.
Here is the list of the winners of the 51st Kerala State Film Awards:
Best Film – Jeo Baby’s Great Indian Cuisine
Second best film – Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam by Senna Hegde
Best Image of Popularity and Artistic Value – Ayyappanum Koshyum by KR Sachidanandan
Best Director – Sidhartha Siva for Ennivar
Best Actor – Jayasurya, for Vellam
Best Actress – Anna Ben, for Kappela
Best Character Actor (Male) – Sudheesh, for Ennivar
Best Actor (Woman): Sreerekha for Veyil
Best Child Artist (Male) – Neeranjan S, Kasiminte Kada
Best Children’s Artist (Female) Arravya Sharma
Best Story – Senna Hegde, for Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam
Best Director of Photography – Chandru Selvaraj, for Kayattam
Best Lyricist: Anwar Ali, for Malik, Bhoomiyile Manohara Swakaryam
Best Youth Film: Tony Sukumar’s Bonamy
Best Screenplay (Original) – Jeo Baby
Best First Director – Muhammed Mustafa for Kappela
Best Music Director – M Jayachandran for Sufiyum Sujatayum
Best Male Vocalist – Sabas Samanth, Vellam, Hallal Love Story
Best Singer – Nithya Mamon Suifyi Sukaratham
Best Background Music – M Jayachandran for Sufiyum Sujatayum
Best Editor – Mahesh Narayanan for CU Soon
Best Art Director – Santhosh Raman for Malik, Pyali
Best Sync Sound: Adarsh ​​Jospeh Cheriyan for Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam
Colorist – Biju Prabhakar for Kayattam
Best Choreography: Lalitha Sobi, Babu Xavier for Sufiyum Sujatayum
Best Male Dub Artist: Shobi Thilakan for Bhoomiyile Manohara Swargayajyam
Best Female Dub: Riya Sairra for Ayyappanum Koshiyum
Best Makeup: Rasheed Ahamed Article 21
Best Costume Designer: Dhanya Balakrishnan for Malik
Visual effects: Sariyas Mohammad for love
Special Jury Mentions – Nalini Jameela for costume design in Bharatapuzha, Nanjiamma for singing Kalakkatha in Ayyappanum Koshiyum and actor Siji Pradeep for his acting in Bharathpuzha.
