Total dominance as Malayalam film industry bag top honours at the 65th National Film Awards!
The 65th National Film Awards was announced on Friday by the ten-member jury panel at the PIB Conference Room, Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi. Riddha Sen and late actor Sridevi bagged the top honours for the best actor male and female respectively. Malayalam film industry had a great year at the awards. A total of nine awards, including top categories like best director, best supporting actor and best screenplay (original and adapted), has been bagged by the industry.
Ace filmmaker won the National award for best director and best adapted screenplay for his movie Bhayanakam. This is his third National award for best director (including non-feature films) and eighth in total. Nikhil S Praveen won the award for best cinematography for his work in Bhayanakam.
Fahadh Faasil who put up a stellar show as ‘kallan’ Prasad in Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum has won the award for best supporting actor. The Dileesh Pothan directorial also won two other awards – Best Malayalam Film and Best Original Screenplay (Sajeev Pazhoor).
Mahesh Narayanan’s Take Off was the other major winner this year from Malayalam. Santhosh Raman won the award for best production design for his work in the movie. Parvathy, who competed with late Sridevi for the best actress award, was given a special mention by the jury for her moving performance as Sameera, a pregnant mother who gets stuck in the war stricken Iraq. She had earlier won the best actress award at the state level and the International Film Festival of India, Goa.
The legendary KJ Yesudas won the National award this year for best playback singer for the song ‘Poyi Maranja Kaalam’ from Vishwasapoorvam Mansoor.
Best Director – Jayaraj (Bhayanakam)
Best Supporting Actor – Fahadh Faasil (Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum)
Best Original Screenplay – Sajeev Pazhoor (Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum)
Best Adapted Screenplay – Jayaraj (Bhayanakam)
Best Cinematography – Nikhil S Praveen (Bhayanakam)
Special Mention-Film – Take Off
Special Mention-Performance – Parvathy (Take Off)
Best Production Design – Santosh Raman (Take Off)
Best Male Playback Singer – KJ Yesudas (Poyi Maranja Kaalam,
Vishwasapoorvam Mansoor)
