Kochi: Ending a 28-year long wait, veteran actor Mammootty on Saturday won his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor for his powerful and haunting portrayal of Kodumon Potti in the film Bramayugam. His victory led a spectacular showing by Malayalam cinema at the 72nd National Film Awards, where the Mollywood industry bagged a total of four prestigious honours.
The legendary actor was last decorated with the National Award way back in 1998 for his title role in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. He had previously won the coveted Best Actor trophy in 1989 for Mathilukal and Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, and later in 1993 for his performances in Ponthan Mada and Vidheyan.
Apart from Mammootty’s landmark win, Bramayugam, directed by Rahul Sadasivan, also fetched Shehnad Jalal the National Award for Best Cinematography. This win adds heavily to the film’s impressive awards tally, coming right after it secured three major honors at the Kerala State Film Awards, including Best Actor for Mammootty.
Malayalam cinema’s other big winners included renowned singer Vaikom Vijayalakshmi, who clinched the Best Female Playback Singer award for the track ‘Angu Vaana Konilu…’ from the movie A.R.M. (Ajayante Randam Moshanam). Feminichi Fathima, written and directed by Fasil Muhammed, was adjudged the Best Malayalam Film, while the non-feature film Bhadra Kali Natakam received a Special Jury Mention.
Expressing deep joy over the prestigious recognition, debutant director Fasil Muhammed shared that the honour was incredibly special as Feminichi Fathima was a low-budget film made by a passionate five-member crew right in their own locality. “I was absolutely happy when the film won at the Kerala State Film Awards. This national recognition makes me even happier,” he stated.
Congratulating all the winners, Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan noted that Malayalam cinema had once again made the entire state proud on the national stage. Satheesan extended his heartiest congratulations to Shehnad Jalal, Vaikom Vijayalakshmi, director Fasil Muhammed, the entire team behind Feminichi Fathima, and the creators of Bhadra Kali Natakam for bringing laurels to Kerala. Later in the day, the Chief Minister personally telephoned Mammootty to congratulate him on the historic achievement.
Along with the big winners, other critically acclaimed Malayalam films like Manjummel Boys and Kishkinda Kandam had also figured prominently among this year’s top contenders, underscoring yet another incredibly strong year for the state’s film industry.
മലയാളം ലഘു വിവരണം
ഭ്രമയുഗം സിനിമയിലെ അഭിനയത്തിലൂടെ മമ്മൂട്ടിക്ക് നാലാമത് ദേശീയ മികച്ച നടനുള്ള പുരസ്കാരം ലഭിച്ചു. 28 വർഷത്തെ കാത്തിരിപ്പിന് ശേഷമാണ് മമ്മൂട്ടിയെ തേടി ഈ പുരസ്കാരമെത്തുന്നത്. മമ്മൂട്ടിയുടെ നേട്ടത്തിന് പുറമെ ഷഹനാദ് ജലാൽ (ഛായാഗ്രഹണം), വൈക്കം വിജയലക്ഷ്മി (പിന്നണി ഗായിക), ഫെമിനിച്ചി ഫാത്തിമ (മികച്ച മലയാള ചിത്രം) എന്നിവരിലൂടെ 72-ാമത് ദേശീയ അവാർഡിൽ മലയാള സിനിമ വൻ വിജയമാണ് കൊയ്തത്.
(With input from MN)
For more details: Navamalayalam.com