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Kerala State Film Awards
Hey there, film lovers!
If you are anything like us, there is nothing quite like the buzz of award season in the world of cinema.
It is that time when we celebrate the stories that moved us, the performances that left us speechless, and the talents behind the magic on screen.
Today, we are delving into the Kerala State Film Awards 2025, specifically, the 55th edition, which honored the best of Malayalam films from 2024.
Announced recently in Thrissur by Kerala Minister for Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs Saji Cherian, these awards have once again highlighted the incredible depth and diversity of Kerala’s film industry.
We are writing this from the team at THOUSIF Inc. – INDIA, where we love sharing insights on global entertainment trends.
We have thoroughly reviewed the details, discussed the highlights, and compiled this comprehensive piece to provide you with the whole story.
Whether you are a die-hard fan of Mammootty’s intense roles or intrigued by breakout stars like Shamla Hamza, we have got it all covered.
Let us break it down step by step, starting with a brief background to set the scene.
A Quick Look Back: The Legacy Of Kerala State Film Awards
Before we jump into this year’s winners, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate the history behind these prestigious honors.
The Kerala State Film Awards were established in 1969 by the Government of Kerala’s Department of Cultural Affairs.
Over the years, they have evolved into a cornerstone of Malayalam cinema, recognizing not just box-office hits but films that push artistic boundaries and reflect societal issues.
Administered by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy since 1998, the awards now cover over 30 categories, a significant increase from the original 15.
An independent jury, often made up of industry veterans, sifts through submissions (this year, 128 films were entered, with 26 shortlisted).
The process is rigorous, focusing on excellence in acting, direction, technical crafts, and even literature related to cinema.
What is notable is how these awards have spotlighted talents who go on to make waves nationally and internationally.
Notably, they have served as a launchpad for discussions on themes such as social justice, folklore, and human resilience, themes that also resonate in this year’s winners.
Records here are legendary: Singer K. J. Yesudas holds the top spot with 26 wins, while filmmaker M. T. Vasudevan Nair has 21.
And in acting?
Stars like Mammootty and Mohanlal have dominated, earning these awards as a testament to their true craftsmanship.
Speaking of which, let us move on to the 2025 highlights.
55th Kerala State Film Awards 2025 List
This year’s ceremony was a real celebration of fresh storytelling and veteran prowess.
Out of the shortlisted films, the jury, led by actor Prakash Raj, picked winners that blended commercial appeal with deeply emotional narratives.
The standout?
Manjummel Boys, a survival thriller that scooped up a whopping 10 awards, including Best Film and Best Director.
It is now the film with the most wins in a single year in the awards’ history!
However, the acting categories stole the show.
Mammootty, at 74, bagged his seventh Best Actor award for the folk horror Bramayugam, proving age is just a number when it comes to delivering powerhouse performances.
On the other hand, debutante Shamla Hamza took home the Best Actress award for Feminichi Fathima, a satirical take on patriarchy that also won Second Best Film and Best Debut Director for Fasil Muhammed.
Other notable nods went to Premalu as Best Popular Film, and special jury awards highlighted inclusivity, such as one for women/transgender people, presented to Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine As Light.
No significant controversies this time around, just pure appreciation for the craft.
Mammootty himself downplayed any rivalry, saying, “This is not a competition; it is an honor.”
To make it easy to scan, here is a table with the complete list of winners:
| Category | Winner(s) | Film/Work |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Chidambaram S Poduval (Director) | Manjummel Boys |
| Best Second Film | Fasil Muhammed (Director) | Feminichi Fathima |
| Best Director | Chidambaram S Poduval | Manjummel Boys |
| Best Debut Director | Fasil Muhammed | Feminichi Fathima |
| Best Actor | Mammootty | Bramayugam |
| Best Actress | Shamla Hamza | Feminichi Fathima |
| Best Character Artist (Male) | Soubin Shahir And Sidharth Bharathan | Manjummel Boys And Bramayugam |
| Best Character Artist (Female) | Lijomol Jose | Nadanna Sambhavam |
| Best Popular Film | Girish A D (Director) | Premalu |
| Best Screenwriter | Prasanna Vithanage | Paradise |
| Best Original Screenplay | Chidambaram S Poduval | Manjummel Boys |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Lajo Jose & Amal Neerad | Bougainvillea |
| Best Music Director | Sushin Shyam | Bougainvillea |
| Best Background Score | Christo Xavier | Bramayugam |
| Best Lyricist | Vedan | “Kuthanthram” (Manjummel Boys) |
| Best Playback Singer (Female) | Zeba Tommy | “Aarorum” (Am Ah) |
| Best Playback Singer (Male) | KS Harisankar | “Kiliye” (ARM) |
| Best Editor | Sooraj ES | Kishkindha Kaandam |
| Best Cinematography | Shyju Khalid | Manjummel Boys |
| Best Production Design | Ajayan Chalissery | Manjummel Boys |
| Best VFX | Jithin Laal, Albert Thomas, etc. | ARM |
| Best Choreography | Sumesh Sunder And Jishnudas MV | Bougainvillea |
| Best Costume | Sameera Saneesh | Rekhachithram And Bougainvillea |
| Best Makeup Artist | Ronex Xavier | Bougainvillea And Bramayugam |
| Best Processing Lab/Colorist | Srik Varier | Manjummel Boys, Bougainvillea |
| Best Sync Sound | Ajayan Adat | Pani |
| Best Sound Design | Shijin Melvin Hutton & Abhishek Nair | Manjummel Boys |
| Best Sound Mixing | Fazal A Backer And Shijin Melvin Hutton | Manjummel Boys |
| Best Dubbing Artist (Female) | Sayonara Philip | Barroz |
| Best Dubbing Artist (Male) | Bhasi Vaikom | Barroz |
| Best Book on Cinema | C.S. Meenakshi | Penpattu Thaaraal… |
| Best Article on Cinema | Valsan Vathussery | Maayunna Nalukettukalum… |
| Special Jury Award (Article) | Noufal Mariyam Blathoor | Samyathinte Vistheernam |
| Special Jury Award | Asif Ali, Tovino Thomas, etc. | Paradise |
| Special Jury (Women/Trans) | Payal Kapadia | All We Imagine As Light |
This table really helps organize the data, doesn’t it?
You can see how Manjummel Boys cleaned up in technical categories, while Bramayugam and Feminichi Fathima shone in acting and storytelling.
Kerala State Film Awards Best Actor: Mammootty For Bramayugam
Ah, Mammootty, the man who just keeps raising the bar.
At the 2025 awards, he won Best Actor for his role as Kodumon Potti in Bramayugam, a black-and-white folk horror set in 17th-century Malabar.
This marks his seventh Kerala State Best Actor win, breaking his own records and solidifying his status as one of Malayalam cinema’s all-time greats.
(Some sources say it is his eighth, but let us stick with the consensus of seven for this category.)
Bramayugam, directed by Rahul Sadasivan, is a chilling tale blending myth, mystery, and power dynamics.
The plot follows Thevan (Arjun Ashokan), a folk singer who stumbles into a dilapidated manor owned by the sorcerer Kodumon Potti (Mammootty).
What unfolds is a web of sorcery involving a vengeful spirit called chathan, family secrets, and themes of corruption and dominance.
Shot in stark black and white to evoke the era’s eerie atmosphere, the film was praised for its cinematography by Shehnad Jalal and its background score by Christo Xavier.
Mammootty’s performance? Critics called it “sinister” and “terrifying,” with him embodying a character that’s both repulsive and captivating.
He plays dual layers, the lord and the impostor spirit – bringing a beastly intensity that anchors the horror.
As one review put it, “Mammootty is the heart of the film, showcasing versatility that makes the oppression feel real.”
The film performed well, earning accolades at festivals such as the International Film Festival of Kerala and ranking high on Letterboxd’s horror lists.
However, Mammootty’s journey did not start here.
Born in 1951, he made his debut in 1971 and rose through the ranks, starring in over 400 films.
His Kerala State wins include gems like Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989) and Mathilukal (1990).
He has also won three National Film Awards and the Padma Shri.
His contributions?
From producing hits to championing philanthropy, he is a pillar of the Malayalam film industry.
Here is a table of Mammootty’s Kerala State Film Award wins for Best Actor:
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Ahimsa | Shared with Sukumaran |
| 1984 | Adiyozhukkukal | Breakthrough in drama |
| 1985 | Yathra | Emotional depth |
| 1989 | Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha | Period epic |
| 1990 | Mathilukal | Literary adaptation |
| 1994 | Vidheyan | Intense character study |
| 2025 | Bramayugam | Folk horror triumph |
This guy’s resume is inspiring – a reminder that dedication pays off.
Kerala State Film Awards Best Actress: Shamla Hamza For Feminichi Fathima
Now, let us talk about the refreshing surprise of the night: Shamla Hamza winning Best Actress for her debut in Feminichi Fathima.
This is only her second film, but what a splash! Living in Dubai, Shamla was a radio jockey and lyricist before stepping into acting.
She shot the movie when her baby was just six months old, juggling motherhood with a demanding role that explores the challenges faced by stay-at-home wives in a patriarchal society.
Feminichi Fathima, directed by Fasil Muhammed (who also won the Best Debut Director award), is a 100-minute Malayalam drama set in Ponnani, Kerala.
It follows Fathima (Shamla), a young woman defying conservative norms for education and independence.
With a satirical edge on patriarchy, the film resonates with real-life struggles, earning praise for its bold narrative and Shamla’s raw, moving portrayal.
Produced on a modest budget, it screened at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala and won hearts with its theme of resilience.
Shamla’s reaction to the win?
Pure joy and surprise.
“This award will change my life,” she said, noting how Mammootty’s congratulations made her day.
From Kerala to Dubai, her story is one of perseverance – a former RJ turning award-winner.
It is inspiring to see new voices like hers getting recognized.
The Sweep: Manjummel Boys As Best Film
If there is one film that defined 2025’s awards, it is Manjummel Boys.
Directed by Chidambaram S. Poduval, this survival thriller, based on an actual 2006 incident, raked in 10 awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
The story?
A group of friends from Kochi vacation in Kodaikanal, where one falls into the treacherous Guna Caves (famous from the 1991 Tamil film Gunaa).
What follows is a tense rescue mission emphasizing friendship and heroism.
Shot partly in a replica cave for safety, the film stars Soubin Shahir (who won Best Character Actor) as the brave rescuer.
With a ₹20 crore budget, it grossed ₹242 crore worldwide, becoming a massive hit.
Critics loved its technical brilliance, Shyju Khalid’s cinematography, and Sushin Shyam’s score, as well as its emotional core.
It is a testament to Malayalam cinema’s ability to blend real events with gripping drama.
Mohanlal: The Ever-Gracious Icon
While Mohanlal did not take home a trophy this year, his presence was still felt.
His directorial debut, Barroz, won dubbing awards, and he was quick to congratulate Mammootty, calling him “my Ichakka” (big brother) in a heartfelt post.
It is moments like these that show the camaraderie in the industry.
Mohanlal, born in 1960, has a stellar career with over 400 films. His Kerala State wins include Best Actor for Kireedam (1989) and Vanaprastham (1999), totaling nine overall.
He is a five-time National Award winner and a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.
Films like Drishyam and Pulimurugan broke records, and his philanthropy through ViswaSanthi Foundation adds to his legacy.
For fun, here is a comparison table of Mammootty and Mohanlal’s Kerala State Best Actor wins:
| Actor | Wins | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Mammootty | 7 | Bramayugam, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Mathilukal |
| Mohanlal | 5 | Kireedam, Vanaprastham, Bharatham |
Their “rivalry” is more like mutual respect, fueling Malayalam cinema’s golden era.
More Insights: Top Films By Award Counts
To give you a broader view, here is a table of films with the most Kerala State Awards in history:
| Film | Year | Won | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manjummel Boys | 2024 | 11 | Best Film, Director, Screenplay |
| Agnisakshi | 1998 | 9 | Best Film, Actress, Music |
| Aadujeevitham | 2023 | 9 | Best Actor, Director, Cinematography |
Manjummel Boys now tops the list – a new benchmark!
Fun Trivia: Did You Know?
Here is an interesting fact to consider: The Guna Caves in Manjummel are real and notoriously dangerous, once referred to as “Devil’s Kitchen” by the British. Over 13 people have fallen in without rescue – until the 2006 incident that inspired the film, where friendship literally saved a life. Talk about real heroism!
Wrapping It Up: Why These Awards Matter
The Kerala State Film Awards 2025 were not just about trophies; they highlighted stories that challenge norms, celebrate resilience, and showcase technical brilliance.
From Mammootty’s record-breaking win to Shamla Hamza’s inspiring debut and Manjummel Boys‘ dominance, it is clear that Malayalam cinema is thriving.
Films like Bramayugam and Feminichi Fathima remind us of the power of folklore and social commentary.
At THOUSIF Inc. – INDIA, we are passionate about bringing you these insights.
If you enjoyed this, check out our other articles on global film trends from Bollywood blockbusters to international festivals.
What is your take on the winners?
Please leave a comment below, and we will continue the conversation.
Until next time, keep watching and appreciating the art of cinema!
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