Kerala State 54th Film Award Winners 2024: Prithviraj, Urvashi, Mammootty Shine

The 54th Kerala State Film Awards were revealed today, August 16, at approximately noon. Prithviraj Sukumaran was honored with the Best Actor award for his performance in director Blessy's film Aadujeevitham. The Best Actress award was shared between Urvashi, for her performance in Christo Tomy's Ullozhukku, and Beena R Chandran, for her role in Thadavu. Mammootty's film Kaathal - The Core was named Best Picture. Blessy was honored as Best Director for Aadujeevitham. The jury, led by the experienced director Sudhir Mishra, also featured director Priyanandanan, cinematographer Alagappan, director Lijo Jose Pellissery, and writer NS Madhavan. Initially, 160 films were shortlisted, which was narrowed down to fewer than 50 in the final phase.

Prithviraj Sukumaran's award-winning performance in Aadujeevitham was highly praised. Urvashi's portrayal in Ullozhukku and Beena R Chandran's role in Thadavu earned them the shared Best Actress award. This marks Urvashi's sixth National Award in her illustrious career.

Aadujeevitham - The Goat Life, directed by Blessy, is based on the 2008 best-selling Malayalam novel by Benyamin. It tells the story of Najeeb, a Malayali immigrant laborer who faces slavery in Saudi Arabia.

Christo Tomy's Ullozhukku is a drama starring Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu, centered on the revelations between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law following the death of a family member.

Beena R Chandran received critical acclaim for her performance in Fazil Razak's Thadavu, which was released in 2023.

Of the 160 films considered, 84 were directed by debutants. The jury noted the diverse range of films presented in 2023. The state government recognized several Malayalam films, including Kaathal - The Core, Ullozhukku, Aadujeevitham, Pookalam, and Thadavu.