Chief minister didn’t give state film awards this time; actors take awards themselves from designated table

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Inaugurating the 50th edition of state film awards, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that each award is meant for honouring the artist who used the medium of cinema for the greater good of the society. He also added that the awards will further enhance the confidence of the artists. Minister A K Balan presided over the ceremony. The minister said similar to J C Daniel award, a similar award will be instituted for lifetime contribution in television media.

This year’s J C Daniel award which was conferred on veteran director Hariharan was accepted by lyricist and former chief secretary K Jayakumar on his behalf. When Suraj Venjaramoodu bagged the award for best actor, Kani Kusruthi got the award for best actress. Director Lijo Jose Pallissery, supporting actress Swasika Vijay, directors of the best film Vasanthi—Shinos Rehman & Sajas Rehman, actors who got special jury mention—Nivin Pauly, Anna Ben and Priyamvada Krishnan accepted their awards.

The special postal stamp in the name of IFFK was published by Kerala circle chief postmaster general Mariamma Thomas by conferring the stamp to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Minister Kadakampally Surendran, mayor Arya Rajendran, president of the district panchayat D Suresh Kumar, state film academy chairman Kamal, KTDC chairman M Vijayakumar, jury chairman Madhu Ambat, The secretary of cultural department Rani George and secretary of the film academy Ajoy took part in the ceremony.

CM didn’t give the awards directly

Against the pre-existing conventions, this time chief minister didn’t distribute the awards. The awards which were in the designated table in the stage were taken by the respective artists upon calling them on stage and later they took photos with other dignitaries including the chief minister. The chief minister held the opinion that in the wake of the pandemic, it is not right for him to distribute the awards with his own hands. Following this, a slight change was made in the ceremony, so that the CM need not have to touch them.