Kerala State Film Awards; Prithviraj Sukumaran, Urvashi and Beena R Chandran awarded

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Shaji N Karuna is a director who has made Malayalam cinema famous at the national and international levels. The Chief Minister handed over the JC Daniel Award, which consists of Rs. 5 lakh, a statuette and a certificate of appreciation, to director Shaji N Karun.

The Chief Minister also distributed the 54th State Film Awards. The Chief Minister said that Shaji N Karun is also a director of films rich in beautiful frames that infuse the art of cinema with painting. Minister Saji Cherian presided over the function.

Prithviraj Sukumaran received the Best Actor award and Urvashi and Beena R Chandran received the Best Actress award. Director Blessy, actor Vijayaraghavan, Resul Pookutty, Vidyadharan Master, Jeo Baby, Joju George, Roshan Mathew, Sangeeth Prathap and others received awards in various categories. Ministers V Sivankutty, KN Balagopal, K Rajan, Mayor Arya Rajendran, District Panchayat President Adv D Suresh Kumar, Director of the Cultural Department Dr Divya S Iyer, Chairman of the Film Award Jury Sudhir Mishra, Chairperson of the Writing Department Jury Dr Janaki Sreedharan, Member of the Film Award Selection Committee Ann Augustine, Chairman of the Cultural Workers Welfare Fund Board Madhupal, Chairman of the Film Academy Premkumar, Secretary C Ajoy, Member of the General Council N Arun were present.

Minister V Sivankutty released the book containing the details of the film awards to Minister K N Balagopal. The design of the Women's Film Festival was released by actor Prithviraj and Minister Saji Cherian by handing it over to Mayor Arya Rajendran, Divya S Iyer and Ann Augustine. This was followed by a musical performance led by Stephen Devassy and his team.