Kerala State Film Award for Best Director

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.[1] The recipients are decided by an independent jury formed by the academy.[2] They are declared by the Minister for Cultural Affairs and are presented by the Chief Minister.[3]

Kerala State Film Award for Best Director
State award for contributions to Malayalam cinema
Recent winner : Blessy for the Movie, The Goat Life
Awarded forAward for excellence in direction
Sponsored byKerala State Chalachitra Academy
First awarded1969
Last awarded2023
Most recent winnerBlessy
(The Goat Life)
Highlights
Total awarded53
First winnerA. Vincent
( Nadhi )

The first Kerala State Film Awards ceremony was held in 1970 with cinematographer-director A. Vincent receiving the Best Director award for his work in Nadhi (1969).[4] Throughout the years, accounting for ties and repeat winners, the Government of Kerala has presented a total of 50 best director awards to 25 different filmmakers. The recipients receive a figurine, a certificate, and a cash prize of 2 lakh (US$2,400).[5][a]

G. Aravindan is the most frequent winner in this category with seven awards. He is followed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan (six awards), Shyamaprasad (five awards), K. S. Sethumadhavan (four awards) and Blessy (three awards). As of 2023, five directors—Shaji N. Karun, M. T. Vasudevan Nair, T. V. Chandran, Hariharan and Lijo Jose Pellissery— have won the award twice in their careers. The academy did not present the award at the 2002 ceremony.[7] Vidhu Vincent was the first female director to win the award in 2016, for her debut film Manhole.[8] The most recent recipient was Sidhartha Siva, who received the award for his film Ennivar in 2020.

Winners

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Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Aravindan has won the award six times.
 
Vidhu Vincent is the only woman to receive the award.
List of award recipients, showing the year and film(s)
Year Recipient Film Ref.
1969 A. Vincent Nadhi [9]
1970 K. S. Sethumadhavan Aranazhika Neram [10]
1971 K. S. Sethumadhavan Karakanakadal [11]
1972 K. S. Sethumadhavan Panitheeratha Veedu [11]
1973 M. T. Vasudevan Nair Nirmaalyam [11]
1974 G. Aravindan Uttarayanam [11]
1975 P. A. Backer Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol [11]
1976 T. Rajeevnath Thanal [11]
1977 Adoor Gopalakrishnan Kodiyettam [11]
1978 G. Aravindan Thampu [11]
1979 G. Aravindan Esthappan [11]
1980 K. S. Sethumadhavan Oppol [11]
1981 G. Aravindan Pokkuveyil [12]
1982 Bharathan Marmaram [12]
1983 Fazil Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku [12]
1984 Adoor Gopalakrishnan Mukhamukham [12]
1985 G. Aravindan Chidambaram [12]
1986 G. Aravindan Oridathu [12]
1987 Adoor Gopalakrishnan Anantaram [12]
1988 K. P. Kumaran Rugmini [12]
1989 I. V. Sasi Mrugaya [12]
1990 G. Aravindan Vasthuhara [12]
1991 Kamal Ulladakkam [13]
1992 Hariharan Sargam [13]
1993 Adoor Gopalakrishnan Vidheyan [13]
1994 Shaji N. Karun Swaham [13]
1995 Adoor Gopalakrishnan Kathapurushan [13]
1996 Jayaraj Desadanam [13]
1997 T. V. Chandran Mangamma [13]
1998 Shyamaprasad Agnisakshi [13]
1999 Shaji N. Karun Vanaprastham [13]
2000 M. T. Vasudevan Nair Oru Cheru Punchiri [14]
2001 T. V. Chandran Dany [14]
2002 No winner [7]
2003 Sibi Malayil Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum [14]
2004 Shyamaprasad Akale [14]
2005 Blessy Thanmathra [14]
2006 Lenin Rajendran Rathri Mazha [14]
2007 M. G. Sasi Atayalangal [14]
2008 Adoor Gopalakrishnan Oru Pennum Randaanum [14]
2009 Hariharan Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja [14]
2010 Shyamaprasad Elektra [14]
2011 Blessy Pranayam [14]
2012 Lal Jose Ayalum Njanum Thammil [14]
2013 Shyamaprasad Artist [15]
2014 Sanal Kumar Sasidharan Oraalppokkam [16]
2015 Martin Prakkat Charlie [17]
2016 Vidhu Vincent Manhole [18]
2017 Lijo Jose Pellissery Ee.Ma.Yau. [19]
2018 Shyamaprasad Oru Njayarazhcha [20]
2019 Lijo Jose Pellissery Jellikkettu [21]
2020 Sidhartha Siva Ennivar [22]
2021 Dileesh Pothan Joji [23]
2022 Mahesh Narayan Ariyippu [24][25]
2023 Blessy Aadujeevitham [26]

Notes

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  1. ^ The average exchange rate in 2019 was 68.53 Indian rupees () per 1 US dollar (US$)[6]

References

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  1. ^ Festival Book. Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. 2004. p. 8.
  2. ^ India Today International. Living Media India Limited. 1999. p. 52.
  3. ^ "Sweta Menon's daughter hogs limelight at State Film Awards". Sify. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  4. ^ Menon, A. Sreedhara (2008). Cultural Heritage of Kerala. DC Books. p. 54. ISBN 978-81-264-1903-6. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Cabinet amends norms governing State film awards". The Hindu. 14 May 2015. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Rupee Rises Against Dollar, Set To Finish Week Higher: 10 Things To Know". NDTV. 22 March 2019. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Bhavam adjudged best Malayalam film of 2002". The Times of India. 9 April 2003. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Kerala State Awards 2016: Vinayakan bags Best Actor, Vidhu Vincent wins Best Director". India Today. 7 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  9. ^ Vijayakumar, B. (1 July 2012). "Old is Gold: Nadhi (1969)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  10. ^ Vijayakumar, B. (26 July 2010). "Aranazhikaneram (1970)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "State Film Awards (1969–80)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "State Film Awards (1981–90)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i "State Film Awards (1991–99)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "State Film Awards (2000–12)". Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  15. ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (24 April 2014). "Portrait of the director". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Sexy Durga wins Sanal Kumar Sasidharan the Rotterdam Film Festival Hivos Tiger Prize". The New Indian Express. 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Charlie stars Dulquer Salmaan, Parvathy shine at state film awards' night". The Indian Express. 16 October 2016. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Vidhu Vincent bags best director award for 'Manhole'". The Hindu. 7 March 2017. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Parvathy, Indrans and Lijo Jose win big at Kerala State Film Awards 2017". The News Minute. 8 March 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  20. ^ "Kerala State Film Awards 2019: Kanthan–The Lover of Colour Wins Best Film, Jayasurya is Best Actor". CNN-News18. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  21. ^ "മികച്ച നടൻ സുരാജ്, നടി കനി, സ്വഭാവ നടൻ ഫഹദ്, ലിജോ സംവിധായകൻ". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  22. ^ "ഗ്രേറ്റ് ഇന്ത്യന്‍ കിച്ചണ്‍ മികച്ച ചിത്രം, നടന്‍ ജയസൂര്യ,നടി അന്ന ബെന്‍". Mathrubhumi News. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ S.R, Praveen (27 May 2022). "Experimental cinema wins big at 52nd Kerala State Film Awards". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  24. ^ "മമ്മൂട്ടി നടൻ, വിൻസി നടി, മഹേഷ് നാരായണൻ സംവിധായകൻ: അവാർഡുകൾ വാരിക്കൂട്ടി 'ന്നാ താൻ കേസ് കൊട്' - Kerala Film Awards". Manorma Online News. 21 July 2023. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  25. ^ "53rd Kerala State Film Awards: Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam named Best Film; Mammootty, Vincy Aloshious, Mahesh Narayanan bag top honours". Indian Express. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Kerala State Film Awards 2024 winners list: Aadujeevitham wins big; Prithviraj, Urvashi, Beena Chandran take top honours".
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