Thrissur, Nov 3, 2025 — The 55th Kerala State Film Awards crowned Manjummel Boys as Best Film, with Mammootty and Shamla Hamza taking the top acting honors. Chidambaram won Best Director for Manjummel Boys, which also led the technical races. The winners were announced by Minister Saji Cherian at a press conference in Thrissur. A seven-member jury led by Prakash Raj selected the awardees from films released in 2024. In all, 128 films were in contention, with 38 shortlisted for the final round.
Big winners
Mammootty bagged Best Actor for Bramayugam, marking a record seventh win in this category. Shamla Hamza earned Best Actress for Feminichi Fathima, a strong debut triumph. Manjummel Boys took home Best Film and Best Director, plus key craft awards. The film’s haul included Cinematography, Art Direction, and Sound awards. Premalu won Best Popular Film for its broad appeal.
Why it matters
This edition affirmed the strength of mainstream Malayalam cinema in 2024. Manjummel Boys proved both a critical and audience favorite. Bramayugam showcased Mammootty in a folk horror role that drew wide praise. Feminichi Fathima signaled fresh voices, winning Second Best Film and Debut Director.
Complete winners list
| Category | Winner(s) |
|---|---|
| Best Film | Manjummel Boys |
| Second Best Film | Feminichi Fathima |
| Best Popular Film | Premalu |
| Best Director | Chidambaram (Manjummel Boys) |
| 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) |
| Best Debut Director | Fasil Muhammed (Feminichi Fathima) |
| Best Story | Prasanna Vithanage (Paradise) |
| Best Screenplay (Original) | Chidambaram (Manjummel Boys) |
| Best Screenplay (Adapted) | Lajo Jose, Amal Neerad (Bougainvillea) |
| Best Music Director | Sushin Shyam (Bougainvillea) |
| Best Background Score | Christo Xavier (Bramayugam) |
| Best Lyricist | Vedan, “Kuthanthram” (Manjummel Boys) |
| Best Playback Singer (Male) | KS Harisankar, “Kiliye” (ARM) |
| Best Playback Singer (Female) | Zeba Tommy, “Aarorum” (Am Ah) |
| Best Editor | Sooraj ES (Kishkindha Kaandam) |
| Best Cinematography | Shyju Khalid (Manjummel Boys) |
| Best Art Direction | Ajayan Chalissery (Manjummel Boys) |
| Best Production Design | Ajayan Chalissery (Manjummel Boys) |
| Best VFX | ARM (team led by Jithin Laal) |
| Best Choreography | Sumesh Sunder; Jishnudas MV (Bougainvillea) |
| Best Costume | Sameera Saneesh (Rekhachithram; Bougainvillea) |
| Best Makeup | Ronex Xavier (Bougainvillea; Bramayugam) |
| Best Sound Design | Manjummel Boys |
| Best Sound Mixing | Manjummel Boys |
| Best Sync Sound | Ajayan Adat (Pani) |
| Best Dubbing Artist (Female) | Sayanora Philip (Barroz) |
| Best Dubbing Artist (Male) | Bhasi Vaikkom (Barroz) |
| Best Processing Lab/Colourist | Shree Warrier (Manjummel Boys; Bougainvillea) |
| Special Jury Award (Film) | Paradise |
| Special Jury Awards (Acting) | Darshana Rajendran (Paradise); Jyothirmayi (Bougainvillea); Asif Ali (Kishkindha Kaandam); Tovino Thomas (ARM) |
| Special Award for Women/Trans people | Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine As Light) |
Jury and selection
The jury comprised seven members led by actor and filmmaker Prakash Raj. The panel screened entries from 2024 releases and weighed both art and craft. In total, 128 films were submitted, with 38 making the final shortlist. The announcements took place at the Kerala Sahitya Academy Hall in Thrissur.
Mammootty’s record
Mammootty achieved a seventh Best Actor win, setting a new record for the awards. His performance in the folk horror film Bramayugam drew acclaim. The role added to his long list of state honors. The actor’s prior wins span multiple decades and genres.
Shamla Hamza’s rise
Shamla Hamza won Best Actress for Feminichi Fathima. The film also took Second Best Film and Best Debut Director. Her win highlights new talent in Malayalam cinema this year. The jury recognized both craft and fresh voices across categories.
Manjummel Boys sweep
Manjummel Boys won Best Film and Best Director. The survival thriller also took Cinematography and Art Direction. It topped sound categories with wins in Sound Design and Mixing. Vedan’s “Kuthanthram” from the film earned the Lyricist award.
Craft highlights
Shyju Khalid claimed Best Cinematography for Manjummel Boys. Ajayan Chalissery won both Art Direction and Production Design for the same film. Christo Xavier took Best Background Score for Bramayugam. Sushin Shyam earned Best Music Director for Bougainvillea.
Sound and vocals
Ajayan Adat won Best Sync Sound for Pani. Manjummel Boys led Sound Design and Sound Mixing. KS Harisankar won Best Male Playback for “Kiliye” from ARM. Zeba Tommy won Best Female Playback for “Aarorum” in Am Ah.
Screenwriting honors
Chidambaram took Best Original Screenplay for Manjummel Boys. Lajo Jose and Amal Neerad won Best Adapted Screenplay for Bougainvillea. Prasanna Vithanage’s Paradise earned Best Story. Paradise also received a Special Jury Award.
Editing, VFX, and more
Sooraj ES won Best Editing for Kishkindha Kaandam. ARM secured Best VFX for its visual scale. Sameera Saneesh won Best Costume for Rekhachithram and Bougainvillea. Ronex Xavier took Best Makeup for Bougainvillea and Bramayugam.
Popular appeal
Premalu was named Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value. The award honors films that connect with wide audiences while keeping craft high. The category often tracks cultural trends in the year’s cinema. This year’s choice reflects the rom-com’s broad reach.
Special mentions
Acting special mentions went to Asif Ali, Tovino Thomas, Darshana Rajendran, and Jyothirmayi. Payal Kapadia received the Special Jury award for women and transgender people. The honor cited All We Imagine As Light. These awards spotlight range across roles and formats.
About the top films
Manjummel Boys is a survival thriller that turned into one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest recent hits. Bramayugam is a folk horror film that drew praise for mood and score. Feminichi Fathima marked an impressive debut and a strong lead turn. Premalu surged with audience love and repeat viewings.
Event details
Minister Saji Cherian announced the winners in a press event in Thrissur. The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy organized the awards. The jury watched and assessed the shortlisted films across several days. The awards recognize excellence across art, performance, and craft.
At a glance
- Best Film: Manjummel Boys.
- Best Director: Chidambaram.
- Best Actor: Mammootty.
- Best Actress: Shamla Hamza.
- Best Popular Film: Premalu.
- Second Best Film: Feminichi Fathima.
Final word
The 55th Kerala State Film Awards put the spotlight on bold stories and strong craft. The honors also welcomed new voices while celebrating legends. Malayalam cinema’s 2024 slate stood tall across screens and stages. The winners now carry the year’s torch for quality and range.
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