Kerala Film State Awards to be announced on Kerala Piravi? Mammootty and Nazriya among front-runners for top honours

Malayalam cinema enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the Kerala State Film Awards, which is expected to take place in the coming days. According to official sources, 38 films are currently under review by the seven-member jury, which is headed by actor Prakash Raj. Deliberations are underway after each screening to select the winners.

The jury is in the final stages of viewing the films and hopes to make the announcement during the Kerala Piravi Day celebrations. Though there are multiple reports suggesting that the awards ceremony could take place on October 31, a source close to the jury said the awards will coincide with Kerala Piravi. The jury began reviewing the final list of films last week and aims to finish the screenings by tomorrow. Members are watching at least four to five films each day to ensure thorough evaluations.

Speculations on the front-runners for key categories
As the final selection draws near, speculation is rife about the potential winners in various categories. In the Best Actor category, Mammootty and Asif Ali are emerging as strong contenders. Mammootty’s portrayal of the menacing Tantrik Kodumon Poti in ‘Bramayugam’  has earned him critical acclaim, and many believe his powerful performance could win him the award once again, after his victory in 2023.

Asif Ali, with his remarkable performances in ‘Level Cross,’ ‘Rekhachithram,’ and ‘Kishkindha Kandam,’ is also considered a top contender. Other actors reportedly in the race for Best Actor include Vijayaraghavan for his role as Appu Pillai in ‘Kishkindha Kandam’, Fahadh Faasil for his portrayal of Ranganan in ‘Aavesham’, and Tovino Thomas for his work in ‘ARM.’

In the Best Actress category, Nazriya Nazim’s role in ‘Sookshmadarshini,’ Shamla Hamsa’s performance in ‘Feminichi Fathima,’ as well as Shruthi Jayan and Meera Vasudev for their roles in ‘Am Ah,’ are reportedly strong contenders.

For the Popular Film category, films like ‘Manjummel Boys,’ ‘Kishkinda Kandam,’ ‘Premalu,’ and ‘ARM’ are under consideration. Meanwhile, ‘Victoria,’ ‘Feminichi Fathima,’ ‘Bramayugam,’ and ‘Am Ah’ are among the top contenders for the Best Film award.