Kerala State Film Awards 2024: Urvashi, Prithviraj, Mammootty among top winners

The prestigious Kerala State Film Awards were announced on Friday, showcasing a wide array of talent from the Malayalam film industry. This year, a record 160 films were submitted for consideration, with two jury teams meticulously shortlisting them. In the final rounds, 38 films were selected, 20 of which were directed by debutants.

Aadujeevitham emerged as a big winner, with Blessy taking home the Best Director award. The film also earned Prithviraj Sukumaran the Best Actor award, while Blessy won for Best Screenplay Adaptation. Additionally, Aadujeevitham received awards for Best Sound Mixing (Resul Pookutty), Best Colourist, and a Special Jury Mention for KR Gukul, which he shared with Sudhi Kozhihode for Kaathal – The Core.

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Aadujeevitham was an ambitious project for Blessy, who dedicated 16 years to bringing the film to fruition, finally releasing it in 2024. The movie opened to glowing reviews and became one of the biggest hits in Malayalam cinema, with global box office receipts exceeding Rs 160 crore.

Prithviraj pushed himself both physically and mentally to portray the struggles of Najeeb Muhammed, a Malayali immigrant worker who falls into the trap of slavery in an Arab country.

Seasoned actress Urvashi won the Best Actress award for her role in Ullozhukku. She will share this award with Beena R Chandran, the lead actress of Thadavu.

Malayalam star Mammootty's Kaathal – The Core, where he portrayed a closeted gay man, was named Best Film. Iratta took home the Second Best Film award, along with Best Screenplay honors. Chaaver also made a strong impact at the Kerala State Awards, with Justin Varghese winning Best Music Composer, outshining AR Rahman for his work on Aadujeevitham.

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