In the Malayalam film industry for over three decades, veterans Indrans and music maestro Arjunan Master bagged their first Kerala State Film Awards, announced here on Thursday.
The awards were announced in the presence of Minister for Culture and Cinema A.K. Balan.
Indrans, 61, a hugely popular comedian and character artiste who has donned the greasepaint for over 500 films in a career nearing four decades, bagged the best actor award for his role in the film “Aalorukam”.
From being a tailor, Indrans began as a costume designer in the film industry before turning into an actor by doing comedy roles.
In the award-winning role, Indrans, however plays a serious character as a full-fledged Ottanthullal artiste — who does a solo dance and poetic performance in a colourful costume decorated with a long red and white band and painted wooden ornaments.
“I am extremely happy and deeply satisfied with this recognition that I have got. I will continue my profession with more responsibilities,” said the actor.
The best actress award went to young actor Parvathy for her role in the film “Take Off”, which tells the tale of the travails faced by Indian nurses who were rescued from Iraq in 2014 after internal strife broke out there.
Arjunan, 82, who has been in the industry for the past five decades, felt extremely happy and overjoyed with the state award.
Arjunan has scored music for over 500 songs in more than 200 films, and the award came for the first time for his compositions in the film “Bhayanakam”.
The award for the best film went to “Ottamuri Velicham”, directed by Rahul Riji Nair, and the best director accolade went to Lijo Jose Pallissery for his film “Ee.Ma.Yau”.
Another interesting feature of this year’s awards event saw the father of a child artiste reporting live about the award that his son got.
N.K. Girish of Manorama News TV channel, reported that his son Chandra Kiran got a special mention for his acting in the film “Athisheyengulde Venal”.
