The Kerala state film awards for the year 2018 will be announced on February 28 or March 1.
Reportedly, 104 films will be competing under various categories and they include 100 feature films and four children's movies.
Sources close to the jury revealed that a few movies including Shaji N. Karun's Olu, TV Chandran's Pengalile, Sathyan Anthikad's Njan Prakashan, Jayaraj's Roudram, Madhupal's Oru Kuprasidha Paiyyan, Anjali Menon's Koode, Zakariya's Sudani from Nigeria, Priyanandan's Silencer, VK Prakash's Pranaa, Amal Neerad's Varathan, M. Mohan's Aravindante Athithikal, Shreekumar Menon's Odiyan impressed the jury.
However, this year, all eyes are on the best actor award. The top contenders include Fahadh Faasil (Carbon, Varathan), Tovino Thomas (Oru Kuprasiddha Payyan, Theevandi, Maradona, Ente Ummante Peru), Suraj Venjaramood (Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri), Mohanlal (Odiyan, Kayamkulam Kochunni), Nivin Pauly (Kayamkulam Kochunni), Dileep (Kammarasambhavam), Joju George (Joseph) and Jayasurya (Captain, Njan Marykutty).
Earlier, the Kerala Chalachithra Academy was divided over whether Aami and Carbon should be considered for awards, given that the former was directed by Kamal, the sitting chairperson of the Academy and the latter is edited by Beena Paul, the vice-chairperson. After much dilemma, it was decided, as per rules, that even if their movies are considered for awards, they will not get individual awards. However, according to the law, crew members of the movie can be considered for awards.
The jury for the 49th Kerala State Film Awards is chaired by screenwriter and director Kumar Shahani. Sherry Govindan, George Joseph, K G Jayan, Mohandas, Vijayakrishnan, Biju Sukumaran, Berny Ignatius and Navya Nair are among the jury members.
P.K. Pokker is the chairman of the literary section in which Dr Jinesh Kumar Eramom and Saritha Varma are the members.
