State Awards A Surprise Pack

The State Awards, noted for the way the jury took account of both commercial success and offbeat ventures, came as huge surprise for the winners. While Jude and Padmakumar say the award has made them more confident, Siddartha Shiva and Anoop Menon share their joy

Award Makes Me Confident

Award for the Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value came his way when Jude Anthany Joseph was least expecting it. “There were bigger hits and it’s a real surprise,” says the director of Om Shanti Oshana. He is all the more excited for his lead actors Nivin Pauly and Nazriya who bagged  another top honours at the 45th Kerala State Film Awards.

“I was sure that Nazriya will win some award for her brilliant performance in the film. The film basically maps her transition from a school girl to a mature woman,” he adds. Despite being female-oriented, Om Shanti Oshana also had a unique narrative pattern. “The only condition I had in my mind while making the film was that it should not disappoint the viewers,” he says. He adds the award was all the boost he needed for his next film. “My new film doesn’t have any big stars  and it revolves around two elderly women. I was a little apprehensive going ahead with it. Now my problem has been solved as this award has instilled a confidence to pursue the project.”  

Directors are the Heroes, Says Anoop

Though he received truckloads of praise for his roles in 1983 and Vikramadithyan, Anoop Menon says all the credit for his performances go to Abrid Shine and Lal Jose.

“They are responsible for the output,” says Anoop, who bagged the award for Second Best Actor. Both his roles, the cricket coach in 1983 and and the police officer in Vikramadithyan were lauded by the jury for their perfect body language. But the actor says he didn’t do any homework for both as he never walks into a film set with any preparation.

“Moreover, I don’t normally go for physical grooming, gaining six packs for one film is not my cup of tea,” he adds.

Anoop says all he aspired while doing 1983 was to play a cool-and-effortless coach. “I just tried to bring in that element of ease,” he says. He adds that Vikramadithyan was perhaps the most challenging role offered to him recently. “The character passes through various age brackets. And, I was playing dad to Unni Mukundan who is only a handful of years junior,” he says.    

An Ode to LGBT Community

The year-long fight for the rights of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community saw the fruition on Monday when Kerala State Film Awards 2014 was announced. My Life Partner, the movie which was noted for boldly portraying the emotional psyche of a gay couple, got the Best Actor award for Sudev Nair besides being adjudged the Second Best Film. 

Expressing his happiness about the surprise win, director M Padmakumar says,: “It was a total surprise. However, I expected the film would get noticed during National awards as some of the filmmakers had called me up at that time and said it was a good movie and deserves a chance in the awards. But for the state awards, I never expected it.” The director received the news at his home in Manaar, Thiruvalla. The awards came as a solace for the hard work and struggle he put in to release the film.

My Life Partner narrates the story of two friends-turned-lovers Richard and Kiran, both born and brought up in different cultural backgrounds. Sudev Nair, who got the best actor award for the portrayal of Kiran, plays a US-born child of separated parents in the movie. The movie deals with the deep and intricate emotional and mental bond between two men, rather than the sexual relationship.

Ain Bags Him Another Award

Siddhartha Shiva, the director of Ain, who won the State Award for Best story, expressed his excitement over the win. A frequent name in award circuits, Ain is the third venture of Siddhartha Shiva and focused on the life of a Muslim household in Northern Kerala. “Awards are always a great boost and an encouragement for directors like me,” said Siddhartha.

Ain traces the life of Maanu, a Muslim youth who shrugs off responsibilities until certain incidents turn his life upside down. According to the director, Ain is about things and life we see around that we mostly overlook. “Ain, which means eye in Arabic, is about such things. There is life, religion and how an individual adapts to society,” said Siddhartha Shiva about his movie in an earlier interview with City Express.

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