In the Kerala state film awards announced on Thursday, actor Parvathy won the award for the best actress (Take Off), while Lijo Jose Pellissery won the award for best director in Ee Ma Yau. Indrans was chosen as the best actor; Ottamuri Velicham was chosen as the best film.
The winners were selected from 110 movies, including children’s films. Among the noted films vying for the honours were S Durga, the controversial movie by Sanalkumar Sasidharan. Movies by all leading actors were in the fray. Mammootty, Mohanlal, Dileep, Prithviraj, Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil, Nivin Pauly, Jayasurya, Dulquer Salmaan, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Biju Menon and Tovino Thomas contested for best actor award. Among actresses, films by Manju Warrier and Parvathy led the pack.
Films which lack a star cast are also hoping to make an impact. A notable entry was Aedan, a film by Sanju Surendran, who won the best debutant director award at the last international film festival.
The jury, which is headed by director T.V. Chandran, comprises directors Dr Biju and Manoj Kana, sound engineer Vivek Anand, cameraman Santosh Thundiyil, music director Jerry Amaldev, script writer Cheriyan Kalpakavadi, writer and critic Dr M Rajeev Kumar, and actress Jalaja.