Mammootty, Shamla Hamza Crowned Best Actor and Actress at Kerala State Film Awards 2024

Malayalam cinema stalwart Mammootty clinched the Best Actor award for his chilling portrayal of Koduman Potti in the horror-thriller Bramayugam, while Shamla Hamza earned Best Actress honours for her nuanced performance as the titular character in Feminichi Fathima at the Kerala State Film Awards 2024. Announced by Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian in Thrissur on Monday, the survival thriller Manjummel Boys dominated with Best Film, Best Director for Chidambaram, and multiple technical accolades, reflecting the industry's resurgence amid global acclaim for innovative storytelling.

Jury Chairperson Prakash Raj praised Malayalam cinema's quality but critiqued that only 10% of entries stood out, urging a curator committee for government-funded projects to safeguard taxpayer funds. "People have the right to expect good-quality films," he emphasised. Minister Cherian echoed concerns over the children's film category, withheld entirely due to subpar submissions—highlighting a gap where superficial family portrayals fail to capture youthful perspectives.

Manjummel Boys, directed by Chidambaram and inspired by a real-life cave rescue, also secured Best Cinematography for Shaiju Khalid, Best Scriptwriter (Original) for Chidambaram, and sound honours, underscoring its technical prowess. Soubin Shahir and Sidharth Bharathan shared Best Character Role (Male) for the films Nadanna Sambhavam and Bramayugam, respectively, while Lijomol Jose won for Nadanna Sambhavam.

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Special Jury Awards recognised Paradise as Best Film, with director Prasanna Vithanage taking Best Storywriter; actors Tovino Thomas (ARM), Asif Ali (Kishkinthakandam), Jyothirmayi (Bougainvilla), and Darshana Rajendran (Paradise) were also honoured. Music categories shone with Sushin Shyam's Bougainville score and Christo Xavier's Bramayugam background.

Feminichi Fathima claimed Second Best Film, boosting debutante Shamla Hamza's rise. Other winners included Vedan for lyrics in Manjummel Boys' Kuthanthram and singers K.S. Harishankar (ARM) and Seba Tomy (Am Aah).

As Malayalam films like Manjummel Boys gross over Rs 200 crore globally, these awards affirm the industry's creative peak while calling for sustained investment in diverse genres, especially children's cinema, to nurture future audiences.

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