Despite stellar performance in Ullozhukku, Urvashi once again settles for Best Supporting Actress; second time missing out on Best Actress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Director Christo Tomy deserves special applause for bringing actress Urvashi back into the limelight through the character Leelamma in Ullozhukku.

Leelamma is both the protagonist and antagonist of the film — a widow, a mother to an ailing son, and someone caught in an emotional conflict with her daughter-in-law while still trying to embrace her. Urvashi’s performance in these intense, layered moments, which could unnerve most actors, left audiences astonished. When Ullozhukku won the National Award for Best Malayalam Film, Urvashi also bagged the Best Supporting Actress award. But for those who truly experienced the depth of Ullozhukku, it was clear that Urvashi deserved the Best Actress title itself, especially when compared with the performances of other nominees.

This isn’t the first time Urvashi has been overlooked for the top honour at the National Awards. In 2006, she won the Best Supporting Actress award for Achuvinte Amma. Back then, jury member B. Saroja Devi had argued that Urvashi truly deserved the Best Actress award, pointing out that Achuvinte Amma revolved around the mother’s character rather than the daughter Achu. However, the majority of the jury decided otherwise, and Urvashi had to settle for the Best Supporting Actress award. Saroja Devi herself later revealed this disagreement to Urvashi during the award ceremony.

Even now, admirers of the actress continue to question this: “When two awards could have been given jointly for Best Actress, how did Urvashi end up with Supporting Actress? Her role wasn’t supporting; it was a full-fledged lead role.”

Urvashi has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress five times (including three consecutive wins) and has also received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award twice. However, since the 2000s, her stellar performances had become rare — until Christo Tomy presented her with the challenge of playing Leelamma. Ullozhukku is Christo’s debut feature film, after gaining attention through several short films and Netflix series.

Urvashi’s reaction

“I’m really happy Ullozhukku won the award. I’m even happier that my dearest Vijayaraghavan finally got recognition, even if late,” Urvashi said in her first response.

“I’ve never acted for the sake of awards or chased them. My only wish is that the films I work in should run successfully. People are asking why I received the Supporting Actress award when I played the lead — shouldn’t it have been Best Actress? Even Achuvinte Amma, where I played the central role, was given Supporting Actress. I don’t know the politics behind this, and I don’t belong to any lobby. I’m just happy to have received the award unexpectedly. I did hope Christo would win Best Debut Director as well,” she said.