THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Atlas Film Critics Awards-2008, announced here on Friday, adjudged ‘Thalappavu’ and ‘Thirakkatha’ the best films. Mohanlal and Sukumari bagged the best actor and actress awards. Madhupal bagged the best director award for his film ‘Thalappavu’. Mohan, producer of ‘Thalappavu’ and Ranjith and Maha Subair, producers of ‘Thirakkatha’ will be awarded Rs 50,000 each.
Announcing the awards instituted by the Kerala Film Critics Association, Atlas group chairman M.M. Ramachandran and association president Thekkinkadu Joseph said that ‘Kurukshethra’, directed by Major Ravi, was adjudged the second best film. Santhosh Damodaran, producer of ‘Kurukshethra’ will get a cash award of Rs 25,000. The performance in the films ‘Pakalnakshathrangal’ and ‘Kurukshethra’ earned Mohanlal the best actor award. Sukumari’s performance in ‘Mizhikal Saakshi’ bagged her the best actress award. Both will get a cash prize of Rs 25,000 each.
‘Chalachitra ratnam’ award will be given to film producer and distributor T.E. Vasudevan for his comprehensive contribution to the film field. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 30,000 and a memento.
Ranjith (‘Gulmohar’) bagged the second best actor award. Priyanka (‘Vilapangalkappuram’) bagged the second best actress award.
Aryadan Shoukath is the best story writer (‘Vilapangalkkappuram’). Babu Janardhanan bagged the award for best screenplay(‘Thalappavu’). The other award winners are O.N.V. Kurup (best lyricist), Johnson (best music director). The second best actor, actress, music director and other talents will be given cash prize of Rs 10,000 each. The awards will be distributed at a function to be held in Palakkad in April.