KOCHI: A K Balan, the minister for cultural affairs will announce 46th Kerala Film awards, a decision of the 10 member jury, led by Odisha director AK Bir at 5 pm on Tuesday. Directors Sundar Dass, Sudevan, riyanandan, actor Shanti Krishna, singer VT Murali, writer PF Mathews, sound designer Arun Nambiar, critic Dr. Meena T Pillai and Kerala Chalachitra Academy Secretary Mahesh Panju (member secretary) are the members of the jury. More than 30 awards will be announced.
A total of 68 movies were initially considered for the award, out of which 15 are reportedly short-listed by the jury in various categories after watching the movies at the Kinfra Film and Video Park at Kazhakkoottam.
Top contenders for the best film, director category are Kammatipaadam (Rajeev Ravi )Maheshinte Prathikaram (Dileesh Pothan), Kaadu Pookunna Neram (Dr Biju) Manhole (Vidhu Vincent ) Ayal Sasi (Sajin Babu) Karutha Joothan (Salim Kumar) and Pinneyum (Adoor Gopalakrishnan).
Mohanlal, (Pulimurugan, Oppam) Vinayagan and Manikantan (Kammatipaadam) Sreenivasan ( Ayal Sasi) Fahad Fazil (Maheshinte Prathikaram) Salim Kumar (Karutha Joothan) are in the race for the best actor award while Rima Kallingal and Kavya Madhavan are the front runners for the best actor (female).
Pulimurugan (Vysakh)Oppam(Priyadarshan), Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol (Jibu Jacob) Jomonte Suvisheshangal (Sathyan Anthikakd) are in consideration of the popular film along with Maheshinte Prathikaram.
Ann Maria Kalippilaanu (Midhun Manuel Thomas) Guppy (Johnpaul George ), Kismath (Shanavas K Bavakkutty), Aaradi (Saji Palamel) and Oru Muthassi Gadha (Jude Anthony Joseph ) are also considered for the awards in various category.
Here is the list of the winners:
Best Film: Manhole (READ MORE: The story of manhole cleaners makes it to IFFK competition)
Second Best Film: Ottayalpaatha
Best Director: Vidhu Vincent. She is the first woman to bag the state award for Best Director.
Best Actor: Vinayakan for Kammattippadam. (Also view gallery: The 48th Kerala State Film Awards: Surprises galore)
Second Best Actor: Manikantan Achary bags award for Kammattippadam
Best Actress: Rejisha Vijayan
Second Best Actress: Punnassery Kanchana for Olappeppi. She made a come back after 47 years.
Best Screenplay: Shyam Pushkaran for Maheshinte Prathikaram
Best Story: Salim Kumar for Karutha Joothan
Best Music Director: M Jayachandran for Kambhoji
Best background score: Vishhu Vijay for Guppy
Best male singer: Sooraj Santhosh for Thaniye in Guppy
Best female singer: K S Chithra for Nadavathil in Kambhoji
Best cameraman: M J Radhakrishnan for Kaadu Pookkunna Neram
Best film in technical category: Kaadu Pookkunna Neram
Best debut director: Shanavas K Bavakkutty for Kismath
Best Child artist (female): Abani Aadi for Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Koylo
Best editor: B Ajith Kumar for Kammttippadam
Best Art: Gokuldas and Nagaraj for Kammttippadam
Best Location sync and Sound design: Jayadevan Chakkadath (Kaadu Pookkunna Neram)
Best Sound Mixing: Pramod Thomas for Kaadu Pookkunna Neram
Best Colourist: Kaadu Pookkunna Neram
Best Costumes: Steffy Xavier for Guppy
Best Dubbing artist (male): Vijay Menon for Oppam
Best Dubbing artist (female): Thankamony for Olappeppi
Special jury award (cinematography): Gireesh Gangadharan for Guppy
Special jury award (actoress): Surabhi Lakshmi for Minnaminung
Special jury award (Story): E Santhosh Kumar for Aaradi
Special jury award (actor): Kaladharan for Actor Ottayal Paatha