Thiruvanthapuram: The 2019 Kerala Film Critics Awards have been announced, with Lijo Jose Pellissery's 'Jallikkattu' winning Best Film and Nivin Pauly winning Best Actor for 'Moothon'. Manju Warrier received the Best Actress award for her performance in the film 'Prathi Poovankozhi'.
Geetu Mohandas has been declared Best Directress for 'Moothon', while Pellissery received its counterpart, Best Director.
State Award-winning 'Vasanthi' was declared Second Best Film, with the Rahman Brothers also bagging the Second Best Director Awards. Vineeth Sreenivasan and Chemban Vinod Jose shared the Second Best Actor for last year's 'Thanneermatthan Dinangal' and 'Jallikkattu'/'Porinchu Mariam Jose' respectively. Swasika, who won the Kerala State Award for Best Supporting Actress, received the same award for her role in 'Vasanthi'.
The 44th Kerala Film Critics Awards were chaired by association president and jury member Dr.George Onnakkoor who announced the awards. Thekinkaadu Joseph Balan Thirumala, Prof Joseph Mathew Pala, A.Chandrashekhar and Dr.Aravindan Vallichira were other distinguished members of the jury. 40 films were submitted for consideration to the jury.
Other awards include:
- Special Jury Award for Best Director: Prithviraj (Picture: Lucifer)
- Best Child Actor: Master Vasudev Sajeesh (Kallanottam) and Baby Anamia RS (Time Travel)
- Best Screenplay: Sajin Babu (Biryani)
- Best Lyricist: Rafeeq Ahmed (Shyamaragam)
- Best Music Director: Ouseppachan (Evide?)
- Best Playback Singer: Vijay Yesudas (Song: Thoomanju Veena Vazhiye - Pathinettam Padi, Shyamaragam)
- Best Playback Singer: Manjari (Song: Rariram, Movie: March Randam Vyaazham)
- Best Cinematography: Gireesh Gangadharan (Jallikattu)
- Best Cinematography: Shameer Mohammad (Lucifer)
- Best Sound Recordist: Anand Babu (Thuriyum, Humania)
- Best Art Director: Dileep Nath (Uyare)
- Best Makeup Man: Subi Johal, Rajeev Subba (Uyare)
- Best Costume Design: Mithun Murali (Humania)
- Best Popular Movie: Thanneermathan Dinangal (AD Girish)
- Special Jury Mention: Poovankozhi (Produced by: Gokulam Gopalan)
- Best Biographical Film: Oru Nalla Kottayamkaran (Director: Simon Kuruvila) and Kalamandalam Hyderali (Director: Kiran G Nath)
- Special Jury Award for Cinematography: Ajay David Kachappilly (Porinchu Mariam Jose)
- Special Jury Award for Best Film: PK Rosy (Directed by Shashi Nadukkad)
Special Jury Award:
- KK Sudhakaran (Thimiram)
- Roshan Andrews (Prathi Poovankozhi)
- Anashwara Rajan (Thanneermathan Dinangal)
Special Jury Awards for Debut Talent:
- Directors: Roy Karaikkattu (Kaatin Arike),
- Dharmaraj Muthuvaram (Sairayum Njanum),
- Jahangir Ummer (March Randam Vyaazham)
- Actor: Chandunath (Pathinettam Padi)
- Actress Sreelakshmi (Changathi)
- Story and Screenplay: PR Arun (Finals)
- Best Lyricist: Robin Ambatt (Oru Nalla Kottayamkaaran)