The Kerala State Film Awards, often called the Oscars of Mollywood, are the highest honours given by the Government of Kerala to celebrate excellence in Malayalam cinema. Started in 1969, the awards recognise outstanding work in art, storytelling, and technical achievement, highlighting creativity and cultural richness.
The 55th edition, which honoured films released in 2024, was announced on November 3, 2025, at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Hall in Thrissur by Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian. The jury, led by actor-director Prakash Raj, reviewed 128 films and shortlisted 26 after detailed screenings.
Complete List of Winners
Film Awards:
• Best Film: Manjummel Boys (Dir. Chidambaram S. Poduval)
• Second Best Film: Feminichi Fathima (Dir. Fasil Muhammed)
• Best Film with Popular Appeal: Premalu (Dir. Girish A.D.)
• Special Jury Mention (Film): Paradise (Dir. Prasanna Vithanage)
Direction and Writing:
• Best Director: Chidambaram S. Poduval – Manjummel Boys
• Best Debut Director: Fasil Muhammed – Feminichi Fathima
• Best Original Screenplay: Chidambaram S. Poduval – Manjummel Boys
• Best Adapted Screenplay: Lajo Jose and Amal Neerad – Bougainvillea
• Best Story: Prasanna Vithanage – Paradise
Acting:
• Best Actor: Mammootty – Bramayugam
• Best Actress: Shamla Hamza – Feminichi Fathima
• Best Character Actor (Male): Soubin Shahir (Manjummel Boys), Sidharth Bharathan (Bramayugam)
• Best Character Actor (Female): Lijomol Jose – Nadanna Sambhavam
• Special Jury Mention (Male): Asif Ali (Kishkindha Kaandam), Tovino Thomas (Ajayante Randam Moshanam)
• Special Jury Mention (Female): Jyothirmayi (Bougainvillea), Darshana Rajendran (Paradise)
Music and Lyrics:
• Best Music Director: Sushin Shyam – Bougainvillea, Manjummel Boys
• Best Background Score: Christo Xavier – Bramayugam
• Best Lyricist: Vedan – Manjummel Boys (“Kuthanthram”)
• Best Male Playback Singer: K.S. Harisankar – Ajayante Randam Moshanam
• Best Female Playback Singer: Zeba Tommy – Am Aa
Technical Awards:
• Best Cinematography: Shyju Khalid – Manjummel Boys
• Best Editing: Sooraj E.S. – Kishkindha Kaandam
• Best Art Direction: Ajayan Chalissery – Manjummel Boys
• Best Costume Design: Sameera Saneesh – Rekhachithram, Bougainvillea
• Best Makeup: Ronex Xavier – Bougainvillea, Bramayugam
• Best Visual Effects: Jithin Lal and team – Ajayante Randam Moshanam
• Best Choreography: Sumesh Sunder and Jishnudas M.V. – Bougainvillea
• Best Sound Design: Shijin Melvin Hutton and Abhishek Nair – Manjummel Boys
• Best Sound Mixing: Fazal A. Backer and Shijin Melvin Hutton – Manjummel Boys
• Best Sync Sound: Ajayan Adat – Pani
• Best Colourist: Srik Varier – Manjummel Boys, Bougainvillea
Dubbing:
• Best Dubbing Artist (Male): Bhasi Vaikom – Barroz 3D
• Best Dubbing Artist (Female): Sayanora Philip – Barroz 3D
Special and Writing Awards:
• Special Jury Award (Women/Transgender Direction): Payal Kapadia – All We Imagine as Light
• Best Book on Cinema: Penpaattu Thaarakal by C.S. Meenakshi
• Best Article on Cinema: Maayunna Nalukettukalum by Valsan Vathussery
• Special Jury Mention (Article): Samayathinte Vistheernam by Noufal Mariyam Blathoor
Note: No awards were presented in Best Children’s Film or Best Child Artist categories this year.
Highlights and Standouts
Manjummel Boys dominated the awards with 10 wins, including Best Film, Best Director, and several technical categories. The survival thriller combined strong emotions with top-notch craft and grossed over Rs. 200 crore worldwide.
Mammootty won his seventh Kerala State Award for Best Actor for Bramayugam, praised for his powerful dual-role performance in the gothic folk-horror film.
Debut director Fasil Muhammed and actress Shamla Hamza impressed with Feminichi Fathima, a small-budget film noted for its bold feminist story and regional flavour.
Premalu won Best Popular Film, while Bougainvillea and Ajayante Randam Moshanam earned recognition for technical excellence, showing Malayalam cinema’s creative range.
Aadujeevitham and Mohanlal were missing from the winners’ list, but the awards reflected a strong and diverse phase for Malayalam cinema.