The 60th National Film Awards have been announced today at New Delhi and Malayalam film industry has much to cheer about. Though we did not bag any major awards, we secured a total of 13 awards.
Out of 13 awards four awards were shared with others including Indira Gandhi Award for the best debut film of a director, which was jointly won by ‘101 Chodiyangal‘ with Hindi film ‘Chittagong’. Kamal’s Celluloid has been adjudged best Malayalam film.
Dulquer Salman & Thilakan in Usthad Hotel
Usthad Hotel was selected as the Best Popular film providing wholesome entertainment along with Hindi film ‘Vicky Donor‘. The film also fetched Anjali Menon the award for the ‘Best Dialouge’. A special mention was given posthumously to Thilakan for his performance in Usthad Hotel.
The ‘Best Supporting Actress’ award went to Kalpana for the film ‘Thanichalla Njan‘ and this award too was shared with Dolly Ahluwalia for ‘Vicky Donor’. Filmmaker-actor Lal won a special mention for his role in the film ‘Ozhimuri‘.
The award for the ‘Best film on Social issues’ went to Renjith’s ‘Spirit‘ in which Mohanlal plays the central role.
The best child artist award has been shared by Minon for ‘101 Chodiyangal’ and Virendra Pratap for ‘Dekh Indian Circus’.
The film ‘Thanichalla Njan’ directed by Babu Thiruvalla has been selected for the Nargis Dutt Award for the best feature film on national integration. The film “Black Forest” won the National Award in the category for best film on environment conservation. Sound recordist S Radhakrishnan won the award in that category for Fahad Fazil starrer film ‘Annayum Rasoolum‘.
Fahad fazil & Andrea in Annayum Rasoolum
Background score in the film ‘Kaliychan’ fetched Bijiibal the award for that category. The best film critic award went to PS Radhakrishnan for his writing on the history, aesthetics and politics of cinema.
Sinoy Joseph
We can also be proud that, two talented Malayalees , Sinoy Joseph from Kottayam and Shreejesh Nair from Trivandrum contributed to the award won by Gangs of Wasseypur (Hindi) for Best re-recordist of the final mixed track which they shared with Alok De. Sinoy Joseph working at Qlabs Mumbai has worked for many films in Bollywood like English Vinglish. The award for Gangs of Wasseypur for sound recording is recognition for his talent.
Sreejesh Nair has made a name for himself as a talented sound engineer. He has been in the industry for more than a decade and has vast experience in his field. He has contributed much to the advancement of sound technology in Bollywood.