She deserved it: Christo Tomy on Urvashi’s National Award win for ‘Ullozhukku’

Director Christo Tomy’s 'Ullozhukku' was named Best Malayalam Film at the 71st National Film Awards, with veteran actor Urvashi winning Best Supporting Actress for her powerful performance in the film.
Speaking to Onmanorama after the announcement, Christo said he was overwhelmed by the recognition. “I feel very happy and elated. Urvashi chechi put in so much effort into this role—she truly deserved this win. 'Ullozhukku' was shot over eight months, facing several hurdles along the way,” he said.

Christo added that while he didn’t expect the film to be selected as Best Malayalam Film, he was thrilled by the honour. “I’m going to call Urvashi chechi now and share the happiness,” he said.

In an earlier interview with Onmanorama, Christo reflected on the process of writing 'Ullozhukku' and the challenges it posed. “There were many times I struggled to understand Anju and Leelamma. They are characters caught in extraordinary circumstances. It took years and numerous rewrites to fully grasp their emotional depth.”

The idea for 'Ullozhukku', he shared, came from a personal experience. “When my grandfather passed away, we had to wait with his body for eight days due to flooding. That memory stayed with me. The image of a family waiting in a waterlogged house for a funeral to take place became the seed of this story.”

The film was shot at Christo’s ancestral home. Recalling his early discussions with Urvashi, he said, “I narrated the story to Urvashi chechi before the pandemic, but things took time to take off due to Covid. She brought immense experience to the role, and her performance was incredibly honest and raw. Many scenes were shot without glycerine—her emotions were entirely natural.”

Directed by Christo Tomy and co-starring Parvathy Thiruvothu, 'Ullozhukku' explores the complicated emotional landscape between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law. But the film goes far beyond the clichés of ‘saas-bahu’ drama.

Urvashi plays Leelamma, the mother-in-law, while Parvathy portrays Anju, the daughter-in-law. The two women share a home yet lead lives filled with longing. One appears to live a seemingly ‘good’ life shaped by habit and tradition, while the other feels trapped in a loveless marriage, her days slowly slipping away. When an unexpected death occurs, it forces both women to confront their circumstances, leading to an emotional reckoning that shifts the course of their lives.