Thiruvananthapuram: Academy Award winning sound designer Resul Pookutty has resigned as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, officials said on Sunday. He reportedly submitted his resignation to the state chief secretary following the recent change of government in Kerala, bringing his tenure at the state backed film body to an end.
The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, which organises film activities and runs the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), now faces the task of appointing a new chairman to steer the institution. Attention has already turned to several names being discussed for the role.
Among the frontrunners is veteran actor Jagadish. Other figures reportedly under consideration include actor Salim Kumar and filmmaker Deepu Karunakaran. Prem Kumar — a former vice chairman who had briefly taken on interim leadership after filmmaker Ranjith vacated the post — is also being mentioned as a potential successor.
Current academy office bearers include Vice Chairperson Kukku Parameswaran, who is also general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and Secretary C. Ajoy, who continues to manage administrative affairs. The governing council comprises industry personalities such as actors Nikhila Vimal, Sudheer Karamana and Santhosh Keezhattoor, alongside filmmaker Amal Neerad, playback singer Sithara Krishnakumar and screenwriter Syam Pushkaran.
Resul Pookutty’s tenure was not without controversy. The 2025 IFFK drew criticism from filmmaker Dr Biju, who accused the academy and the state government of poor festival management and labelled the chairman a “dummy” for his absence at the venue. Responding to the criticism in Thiruvananthapuram, Pookutty said some invited international filmmakers could not attend because visas were not cleared by the central government for foreign policy reasons. He acknowledged public scrutiny over his absence but maintained that he was involved in the festival’s major decisions.