THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Famous playback singer P Jayachandran has won the 2020 JC Daniel Award for lifetime contribution to Malayalam film. Minister Saji Cheriyan made the announcement in a press release. The JC Daniel Award, the state government's highest film award, carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a certificate and a sculpture.

The jury said that P Jayachandran, who has been in the film industry for more than half a century, has made his mark in the history of Malayalam film music. JC Daniel Award winner was selected by a committee comprising of JC Daniel Award winner and director Adoor Gopalakrishnan as Chairman, and members filmmaker Ranji Panicker, actress Seema, Chalachithra Academy Chairman Kamal and Culture Department Principal Secretary Rani George.

The award presentation ceremony will be held on December 23, 2021 at the Secretariat's Durbar Hall. In 1985, Jayachandran won the National Award for best playback singer. He has won the Kerala State Film Award for best singer five times. P Jayachandran is the 28th person to receive the highest film award from the Government of Kerala.

The JC Daniel Award was instituted in 1992. In 2019, Hariharan was the winner of the award. The prize money was increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh in 2016.