THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mainstream Malayalam cinema cut a sorry figure at the 43rd State Film Awards. None of the films that pleased the box office seemed good enough to secure even a technical award.
Of the 39 films in competition, there were at least 20 films made for over Rs two crore a film. Yet the most number of awards, even the technical ones such as cinematography and editing, went to lowbudget, largelyunknown, yettobereleased films such as Adaminte Makan Abu, Makaramanju, Chithrasoothram and Pakarnnattam.
The biggest hits of 2010, Pokkiri Raja, Marikkundoru Kunjadu, Karyasthan, In Ghost House Inn, Cocktail, Malarvady Arts Club and Best Actor could not bag even a single award, even in individual categories like songs and lyrics.
The only film that managed to bridge the gap between art and commercial cinema in 2010, Pranchiyettan and the Saint directed by Ranjith, had to satisfy with a single prize: the award for the most popular film with aesthetic appeal. ENS