Kerala film awards: Top honours for Biju Menon, Joju George and Revathy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Biju Menon and Joju George shared the best actor award, and Revathy was adjudged the best actress in the 52nd state film awards announced here on Friday. Dileesh Pothen won the best director award while Aavasa Vyooham, produced and directed by Krishand R K, has been adjudged the best feature film.
Biju Menon won the award for his role in 'Aarkkariyam', while Joju’s performance in four films -- 'Nayattu', 'Madhuram', 'Thuramukham' and 'Freedom Fight' -- bagged the title. Revathy got the award for her role in 'Bhoothakalam'.

Dileesh Pothen was adjudged the best director for his directorial venture 'Joji'. The loose adaptation of William Shakespeare’s 'Macbeth' also won awards for Unnimaya Prasad (best female character artist) and Shyam Pushkaran (best adapted screenplay).
Krishand bags best screenplay award
Actor Sumesh Moor, who donned the role of the antagonist in 'Kala', won the best male character artist award. Sneha Anu won the best child artist (female) award for her role in the film Thala directed by Khais Millen.
Director of 'Aavasa Vyooham' Krishand R K won the award for the best screenplay also. The award for the second best film went to two movies -'Chavittu' directed by Sajas Rehman and Shinos Rehman and 'Nishiddho' directed by Tara Ramanujan. 'Hridayam', directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, won the best film award in aesthetic value and popular appeal.
In film music, Hisham Abdul Wahab was adjudged the best music director for 'Hridayam' while B K Harinarayanan won the best lyricist award for 'Kaadakalam'. The award for the best music director (background score) went to Justin Varghese for 'Joji'. Pradeep Kumar was selected the best male singer and Sithara Krishnakumar the best female singer.
Mahesh Narayanan and Rajesh Rajendran shared the best editor award while Gokuldas A V won the best art director award. Devi S was selected the best female dubbing artist while no awards were given in the male category.
The jury observed that the resilience of the Malayalam film industry after the pandemic is seen with surprise and respect, as 142 films --most of them shot during the pandemic --came up for the competition. These filmmakers include 65 newcomers and six women directors.
The films that came for the competition also show that the industry is all set for a major advancement of transgender filmmakers. The jury recommended that it would be prudent to consider films released in over the top (OTT) platforms also for popular appeal and aesthetic value. It also recommended instituting awards in the action choreography category.