THRISSUR: State Professional Drama Awards 2014 instituted by the Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademi were announced here on Monday. The announcement was made by jury comprising film and stage director M Mohan, stage actor Leela Panicker and secretary of the akademi P V Krishnan Nair. They jury shortlisted 10 out of the 45 scripts for performance at the K T Mohammed theatre in December last year. All the 10 plays will get a subsidy of `1 lakh each from the Akademi for staging them. ‘Pranayasagaram’ of Kerala People’s Arts Club, Kayamkulam was adjudged the best play, while ‘Ottamarathanal’ became the second best.
‘Pranayasagaram’ will get a prize money worth `40,000, while its director Manoj Narayanan will get a cash prize of `20,000 for best direction.
Khalid Kedamangalam became the best male actor, while the best female actor is Bindhu Suresh.
The two will each get a cash prize of `15,000.
Francis T Mavelikara won the award for the best playwright for his plays ‘Abraham’ and ‘Ottamarathanal’. Actor Sarasan was the best comedian for his performance in ‘Ottamarathanal’.
Kallara Gopan was adjudged the best male singer, while Rajalakshmi and Gouri P Krishan shared the best actress honours. Poet O N V Kurup was adjudged the best lyricist for the play ‘Pranayasagaram’ while M K Arjunan won the award for the best background score for the same play.
The other awards include Artist Sujathan (stage spectacle), Rajan Kalady (lighting) Velayudhan Keezhillam (make-up), Sudarshan Kudappanamoodu (best second actor), Shiny (best second female actor) and Hemanth Kumar (best second playwright).