The Kerala film industry, fondly called “Mollywood,” has once again won the hearts of audiences with its creativity and profound stories. The 2024 Kerala State Film Awards bear testimony to this. The biggest attraction of the year was “Manjummel Boys,” which made history by winning nine awards in a row. Veteran actor Mammootty and talented actress Shamala Hamza were honored with Best Actor and Best Actress awards, respectively.
Let’s explore 10 key highlights of this year’s awards—
Historic Win for “Manjummel Boys”
This year’s most talked-about film, “Manjummel Boys,” surprised everyone by winning awards in nine categories. The film swept key categories such as Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.
The film emerged as the biggest winner of the 2024 awards season due to its storytelling, acting, and technical excellence.
Mammootty’s Career-Defining Performance
Mollywood megastar Mammootty once again proved that age is just a number. He received the Best Actor award this year for his stellar performance, portraying a character brimming with emotion and depth.
This award for Mammootty adds another golden chapter to his long career.
Shamla Hamza’s Shining Star
Shamala Hamza captured everyone’s attention this time with her powerful performance. She was honored with the Best Actress award. Her performance displayed a perfect blend of depth, spontaneity, and sensitivity.
This win will catapult her career to new heights and establish her as a unique presence in the hearts of audiences.
Director’s Brilliance – Vijayan’s Visionary Touch
Vijayan Chandran, director of “Manjummel Boys,” also received the Best Director award this year.
He presented the film not just as a story, but as a moving experience. The sensitivity with which he weaves the camerawork, music, and emotions of the characters keeps audiences glued to the screen.
An example of technical excellence
“Manjummel Boys” also excelled in the technical categories at this year’s Kerala State Film Awards. The film won awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Sound Design.
These awards proved that Mollywood is unmatched not only in terms of storytelling but also in terms of technical quality.
A strong presence of emerging artists
The most beautiful thing about the Kerala film industry is that it always encourages new talent. Many new faces were also honored at this year’s awards.
Young talents made their mark in the Best Debut Actor and Best Debut Director categories. This shows that Mollywood’s future is in strong hands.
The confluence of society and cinema
Social sensitivity has been a hallmark of Kerala films. This time too, many films made in-depth comments on social issues.
Whether it’s “Manjummel Boys” or the other winning films, all had one message: a focus on humanity, struggle, and the complexity of relationships. These are the very elements that set Kerala cinema apart.
Praise for Music and Background Score
The soul of any film is its music, and this year’s awards proved this once again.
The background score and music direction of “Manjummel Boys” were also highly praised.
The film’s music not only enhanced the scenes but also drew the audience deeper into the story.
Audience Reaction and Social Media Buzz
Following the announcement of the awards, hashtags related to Kerala cinema began trending on social media.
Twitter was flooded with tags like #ManjummelBoys, #Mammootty, #KeralaFilmAwards (now X).
Fans praised the film, saying that its win was fully deserved and expected.
Many called Shamala Hamza the “new sensitive star,” while Mammootty received a flood of tweets calling her a “living legend.”
The Future of Kerala Cinema – Further Strength
This year’s awards have made it clear that Kerala cinema is constantly moving forward on a path of experimentation, innovation, and emotional honesty.
Films like “Manjummel Boys” proved that with a good story, authentic characters, and heartfelt music, regional cinema can also make a mark at the national level.
These awards are not only a tribute to the winners but also an inspiration to thousands of artists who want to make a difference through cinema.
Conclusion: A glorious night that will go down in the history of Kerala cinema
The Kerala State Film Awards 2024 was not just an awards ceremony, but a celebration of the soul of cinema.
While “Manjummel Boys” redefined creativity, actors like Mammootty and Shamala Hamza redefined the depth of acting.
This year has become a symbol not only of achievements for Kerala cinema but also of new inspiration for the times to come.
