Shaji Neelakantan Karun is an Indian film director and cinematographer. His debut film Piravi (1988) won the Caméra d'Or – Mention d'honneur at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. He was the premiere chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, the first academy for film and TV in India and was also the executive chairman of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) from 1998 to 2001. He is best known for his award-winning films Piravi (1988), Swaham (1994), Vanaprastham (1999) and Kutty Srank (2009). He won the National Award for Best Director for his debut film Piravi. He also won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Director for his films Swaham and Vanaprastham. Currently, he is the Chairman of Kerala State Film Development Corporation.
Sudha Chandran is an Indian Bharatanatyam dancer and actress who appears in Indian television and films.
T. V. Chandran is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and actor, predominantly working in Malayalam cinema. Born in a Malayali family in Telicherry, Chandran worked as a Reserve Bank of India employee before entering the film industry. He started his film career as an assistant director to P. A. Backer. He also acted the lead role in Backer's highly acclaimed political drama Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol (1975). He made his directorial debut with the unreleased feature Krishnan Kutty (1981), and followed this with the Tamil film Hemavin Kadhalargal (1985). Chandran came into prominence after Alicinte Anveshanam (1989), which was nominated for the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival. This was followed with Ponthan Mada (1993), his most famous film to date. Chandran is most known for his art-house films which have references to history and undertones of politics and feminism. He is also known for his trilogy on 2002 Gujarat riots, consisting of Kathavasheshan (2004), Vilapangalkappuram (2008) and Bhoomiyude Avakashikal (2012). Other highly acclaimed films include Mangamma (1997), Dany (2001) and Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam (2003).
Dany is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language political comedy drama film written, directed and produced by T.V. Chandran with Mammootty in the title role. Also starring in the film are noted dancer Mallika Sarabhai, Vani Viswanath, Siddique, Vijayaraghavan, Ratheesh, popular television actress Maya Moushmi, Raji menon and Narendra Prasad. It was released coinciding with the festival of Christmas in December 2001. The film met with critical acclaim with most of the critics hailing the performance of Mammootty. It won numerous awards including a National Film Award and three Kerala State Film Awards.
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Director is an honour presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India since 1969. It is given to a film director who has exhibited outstanding direction while working in the Malayalam film industry. Until 1997, the awards were managed directly by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Government of Kerala. Since 1998, the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, an autonomous non-profit organisation functioning under the Department of Cultural Affairs, has been exercising control over the awards. The recipients are decided by an independent jury formed by the academy. They are declared by the Minister for Cultural Affairs and are presented by the Chief Minister.
Rithubedam is a 1987 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by Prathap Pothen. The film stars Balachandra Menon, Thilakan, Geetha, Vineeth, Monisha Unni and Murali in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Shyam. Thilakan received the National Film Award for the Best Supporting Actor in the year 1987 for his role in the film. The film was screened at 53rd International Film Festival of India.
Rakshadhikari Baiju Oppu is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film written and directed by Ranjan Pramod and produced by 100th Monkey Movies. It stars Biju Menon in the lead role with Aju Varghese and Hannah Reji Koshy playing supporting roles. The songs and background score are composed by Bijibal. The plot follows Baiju, a local sports club patron as he tries to resolve various issues taking place in their village in Kerala.
Manhole is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Vidhu Vincent, depicting the life and struggles of a manual scavenger's daughter. The film was adjudged the Best Film of the year 2016 by the jury for the Kerala State Film Awards 2016 and the Director of the film was selected as the Best Director of the year 2016. This made Vidhu Vincent the first woman to win the Best Director Award in the history of Kerala State Film Awards since its inception in 1969. According to jury chairman Apurba Kishore Bir, Manhole was the unanimous choice among the jury members for convincingly bringing the plight of the marginalised on screen.
Vinitha Koshy is an Indian actress who made her debut with the 2016 film Aanandam. She won the Kerala State Film Award – Special Jury Award for her performance in Ottamuri Velicham (2017). She has also appeared in the films Aby (2017), Luca (2019) and in highest grossing malayalam flim 2018 (2023).
Deepak Parambol is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films.
Rahul Riji Nair is an Indian film director, scriptwriter, producer and actor active in the Malayalam film industry. His debut feature film Ottamuri Velicham won 4 awards at the 2017 Kerala State Film Awards, including Best Feature Film. Rahul won the 67th National Film Awards for Best Malayalam Film in 2019 for his third feature film Kalla Nottam.
An International Local Story is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language comedy film directed by Harisree Ashokan. The film is about the friendship between five friends and features Rahul Madhav, Aswin Jose, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Bijukuttan, Deepak Parambol, Manoj K. Jayan, Mamitha Baiju and Tini Tom in substantial roles.
Pauly Valsan is an Indian actress who has been acclaimed for acting in Malayalam films and plays. She debuted in Malayalam film industry with the supporting roles in the 2008 movie Annan Thambi In 2017, she won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actress for her performance in Ee.Ma.Yau directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and Ottamuri Velicham directed by Rahul Riji Nair.In 2022, she won Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist.
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Character Actress is an award, begun in 2015, presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India to an actress for her performance in a Malayalam film. It replaced the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress, which was discontinued in 2014. The winner receives a certificate, statuette and a cash prize of ₹50,000.
Kozhipporu (transl. Cockfight) is an Indian Malayalam-language Family Drama film, produced by V G Jayakumar under the banner J Pic Movies. The movie is written and directed by Jinoy Janardhanan and Jibit George, and starred Indrans, Pauly Valsan, Anjali Nair, Jolly Chirayath, Veena Nandakumar, Jinoy Janardhanan, Navajith Narayanan, Sarin Rishi, Sohan Seenulal and Praveen TJ. The soundtrack was composed by Bijibal. The film is edited by Appu N. Bhattathiri and has Ragesh Narayanan as the cinematographer. The film released in theatres on 6 March 2020.
Kho-Kho is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language sports drama film written and directed by Rahul Riji Nair starring Rajisha Vijayan, Mamitha Baiju and produced by First Print Studios. The film received a TRP of 12.7 points during its World Television Premiere, making it the highest ever for a female-centric Malayalam film. The film also entered the list of Top 15 Malayalam films with the highest TRPs at that time.
Nizhal is a 2021 Malayalam-language mystery thriller film directed by Appu N. Bhattathiri in his debut and written by S. Sanjeev. It stars Kunchacko Boban and Nayanthara. It also features Izin Hash, Rony David, Saiju Kurup and Divya Prabha in supporting roles. Appu N. Bhattathiri with Arunlal S. P. edited the film while Deepak D. Menon handled the cinematography. Sooraj S. Kurup composed the original songs and background score. The film is produced by Anto Joseph Film Company and Melange Film House in association with Tentpole Movies. Boban plays the role of a first-class Judicial Magistrate. In the film, John Baby, who is recouping from a traumatic accident, meets Nitin, a young boy who interests him with murder stories. When Baby explores the possibility of Nitin's stories by mapping the events, it corresponds with the actual incidents.
Paka (River of Blood) is a 2021 Indian Malayalam language drama film written and directed by Nithin Lukose. The film stars Basil Paulose in lead role while Vinitha Koshy, Nithin George, Abhilash Nair, Jose Kizhakkkan, Athul John, Joseph Manikkal and Mariyakkutty are in supporting roles. The film is produced by Raj Rachakonda and Anurag Kashyap. The film premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival in Discovery Section. It is also selected in the Red Sea International Film Festival as Part of Competition section- 2021.
Kalla Nottam is a 2019 Indian Malayalam language coming-of-age drama film directed by Rahul Riji Nair starring Vasudev, Suryadev, and Ansu.
Kooman (transl. Owl) is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film directed by Jeethu Joseph, written by K. R. Krishna Kumar and jointly produced by Listin Stephen and Allwin Antony. The film stars Asif Ali, with Renji Panicker, Jaffar Idukki, Baburaj, Hannah Reji Koshy, and Meghanathan. The plot follows Giri Shankar, a C.P.O. disregarded by his colleagues and looked upon with contempt by his villagers, as he takes revenge for a humiliating incident, his life turns upside down. The original background score and a song was composed by Vishnu Shyam.
