Kavya Madhavan is a former Indian actress, who appeared predominantly in Malayalam films. She made her debut in 1991 as a child artist in Pookkalam Varavayi. Her debut role as one of the lead actresses was in Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikkil in 1999, when she was in the ninth grade. Its success established her status as one of the leading actress in the Malayalam industry during the 2000s. She has acted in over 75 movies. She has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress twice, for her performances in Perumazhakkalam (2004) and Khaddama (2010).
Perumazhakkalam is a 2004 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Kamal and written by T. A. Razzaq. It stars Dileep, Meera Jasmine, Kavya Madhavan, Vineeth, and Biju Menon. The film's music was composed by M. Jayachandran. The film was produced by Salim Padiyath through Rasikar Films and distributed by Valiyaveettil Movies.
Mahalakshmi Menon, best known by her stagename Shobha, was an Indian actress best known for her work in Malayalam and Tamil films. At the age of 17, she won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1979 Tamil film Pasi. She also received three Kerala State Film Awards: for Best Actress (1978), Best Supporting Actress (1977) and Best Child Artist (1971); and two Filmfare Awards South for Best Actress in Kannada (1978) and Tamil (1979) films. Considered one of the finest talents to have emerged in the Indian film world, her promising career was unexpectedly cut short as she committed suicide in 1980, due to unknown reasons. Her popularity resulted in considerable public scrutiny of the events that led to her death and also various conspiracy theories. The 1983 Malayalam film Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback is supposedly based on her life and death.
Biju Menon is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam films, and also has a few Tamil and Telugu film credits. He made his debut in the 1994 Malayalam film Puthran. In a career spanning over two decades, he has appeared in over 150 films, and has won one National film award for Best Supporting Actor, three Kerala State Film Awards including one best actor, two Filmfare Awards South and nine Asianet Film Awards. He got the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor in 2021 for the film Aarkkariyam.
Vilapangalkkappuram is a 2008 Indian Malayalam-language film scripted and directed by T. V. Chandran in 2008. The film is based on the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots of 2002. It was the second movie in the trilogy based on the riots by the director with the first one being Kadhavaseshan and the third and final one being Bhoomiyude Avakashikal. The main female lead Priyanka Nair won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in this film.
Asha G. Menon is a well-known Malayalam film playback singer, who is widely remembered for her first song 'Aaradyam Parayum' from the film 'Mazha' (2000). At the age of 15, she won the Kerala State Award for the Best Female Playback Singer in 2001. The song Aaradyam Parayum in the film Mazha directed by Lenin Rajendran starring Biju Menon and Samyuktha Varma won the award. She is also popular as a TV presenter who anchored the music show on Asianet - 'Hrudayaragam' for many years. Today she is a music teacher at Indian High School, Oud Metha Campus in Dubai.
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India since 1969 to an actress for the best performance within the Malayalam film industry. Until 1997, the awards were managed directly by the Department of Cultural Affairs, 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 awardees, decided by a jury formed by the academy, are declared by the Minister for Cultural Affairs and are presented by the Chief Minister.
Manju Pillai is an Indian actress who appears in Malayalam films and television shows. She is best known for portraying comedic roles, but has also played character roles. She has won the Kerala State Television Award for Kerala State Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in two consecutive years. In 2007, she played one of the female lead roles in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's dramaNaalu Pennungal. Manju is the granddaughter of Malayalam film actor S. P. Pillai. Manju received huge acclaim for her performance in the 2021 film Home.
Chandranudikkunna Dikkil is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film directed by Lal Jose and written by Babu Janardhanan. It stars Dileep, Samyuktha Varma, Kavya Madhavan, Lal, Biju Menon, Jagadish, and Innocent. The music was composed by Vidyasagar.
Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by A. K. Lohithadas. The film was produced by P. V. Gangadharan and was distributed by Kalpaka Films. Starring Jayaram, Thilakan and Samyuktha Varma. It was the debut film of Samyuktha Varma. Malayalam film Director Lohithadas, makes a cameo appearance. For her performance as 'Bhavana', Samyuktha Varma won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress.
Sona Nair is an Indian actress working mainly in Malayalam cinema who is also best known for her roles in television soaps.
Priyanka Nair is an Indian model-turned-actress who predominantly works in the Malayalam film industry. She made her debut in the Tamil film Veyyil in 2006. She gained critical acclaim for her roles in Bhoomi Malayalam, Vilapangalkappuram and Jalam.
Mazha (transl. Rain) is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Lenin Rajendran based on the short story Nashtappetta Neelambari by Madhavikkutty. It stars Biju Menon, Samyuktha Varma and Lal. The music was composed by Ravindran. The film won five Kerala State Film Awards, a National Film Award and a South Filmfare Award.
Angene Oru Avadhikkalathu is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Mohan and written by Sreenivasan from a story by Nedumudi Venu. It stars Sreenivasan, Samyuktha Varma, and Mukesh. The music was composed by Johnson. Angene Oru Avadhikkalathu won two Kerala State Film Awards: Best Music Director and Best Female Singer.
Madhuranombarakattu is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Kamal and written by Raghunath Paleri, starring Biju Menon and Samyuktha Varma. The music was composed by Vidyasagar. The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film.
Meghamalhar is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language romance film written and directed by Kamal from a story by Iqbal Kuttippuram. It stars Biju Menon and Samyuktha Varma in the lead roles, while Poornima Mohan, Sreenath, Shivaji, Siddique and Raghavan plays supporting roles. The film was jointly produced by M. V. Shreyams Kumar for Mathrubhumi and Asianet. The film won two Kerala State Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards South. The movie was reported to be inspired by the 1945 British movie Brief Encounter.
Anu Sithara is an Indian actress who appears predominantly in Malayalam films. She has also appeared in some Tamil films. She made her debut in 2013 as a child artist Pottas Bomb in 2013. Anu is also a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and well known for her stage shows.
Samyuktha is an Indian actress who primarily appears in Malayalam films. She made her acting debut with the Malayalam film Popcorn (2016).
Suresh Poduval is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in the Malayalam film industry. He is best known for his work on the films Deepasthambham Mahascharyam, Nadan Pennum Natupramaniyum, and Achaneyanenikkishtam.
The 44th Kerala Film Critics Association Awards, honouring the best Malayalam films released in 2020, were announced in September 2021.
