The 55th Kerala State Film Awards, honoring the best Malayalam films of 2024, were announced on November 3, 2025, by Kerala’s Minister of Cultural Affairs, Saji Cherian.
From 128 submissions, a jury chaired by actor Prakash Raj selected 26 films. The awards celebrated a vibrant year for Malayalam cinema, dominated by both commercial hits and artistic works.
However, the ceremony was quickly embroiled in controversy, overshadowing the celebrations and sparking debates about ethics, politics, and merit in cultural recognition.
The awards highlighted both box-office hits and critically acclaimed films. Manjummel Boys, a survival thriller that grossed over 200 million rupees worldwide, swept most categories (10 awards), underlining its dual appeal as entertainment and a masterpiece.
The awards had several positive effects on the industry and its participants:
The overwhelming success of Manjummel Boys solidified its status as a national hit, potentially opening doors for its young cast (e.g., Soubin Shahir) and director Chidambaram in domestic projects.
Mammootty’s win for the folk horror film Bramayugam reaffirmed his versatility at 73, inspiring younger actors.
In his reactions, he humbly commented that “this is not a competition” and praised emerging talents like Shamla Hamza, whose debut win highlights opportunities for underrepresented voices (such as a Muslim woman who wears a hijab).
Premalu’s Best Film nomination solidifies its appeal to young audiences, likely boosting views on platforms like JioHotstar.
Industry Prestige: Recognition of technical excellence (e.g., the visual effects in ARM and the sound design in Manjummel Boys) indicates a growing investment in the production quality of Malayalam cinema, attracting more funding and talent.
It also highlights the diversity of the 2024 film lineup, from thrillers to romantic comedies, contributing to a record-breaking box office gross of over 1 billion rupees.
Cultural Impact: Fans and media hailed it as a “timeless” tribute to Mammootty’s legacy, and social media was flooded with positive comments about the film’s success and new faces like Hamza.
Despite the glamour, the awards sparked an immediate backlash, primarily due to perceived ethical lapses and bias:
The Best Lyricist award given to Vedan (for a Manjummel Boys song) ignited fury because of the accusations against him for rape, sexual harassment, and MDMA possession (he was arrested in 2024). Netizens and activists denounced it as a “moral abdication” by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, accusing it of prioritizing politics over justice in the #MeToo era.
Social media was flooded with posts like “Shame on the Kerala government!” and ironic comparisons to Hamza’s award, questioning whether “politics over merit” undermines the defense of women’s safety. This has damaged the awards’ credibility, with calls to revoke the award and reform the jury selection process.
Lobbying accusations: Filmmaker Roopesh Peethambaran accused the landslide victory of Manjummel Boys of “political lobbying,” implying favoritism toward actors with ties to the LDF (e.g., Soubin Shahir’s alleged connections).
This echoes more widespread complaints, such as the meager awards received by Kishkindha Kaandam despite its critical acclaim, drawing parallels with the “bias of the National Awards.”
The controversy has amplified online discontent (thousands of critical posts within hours), which could erode public trust in state-funded awards.
There is a risk of protests or boycotts at the next ceremony and could put pressure on the government to be held accountable; while there has been no official response yet, critics like Prakash Raj have indirectly urged a closer examination of publicly funded films. For Vedan, this complicates his legal battles; for the industry, it highlights the tensions between art and the conduct of the artist.
The 2024 Kerala State Film Awards encapsulate the highs and lows of Malayalam cinema: a triumph of commercial-artistic synergy thanks to Manjummel Boys and the enduring dominance of Mammootty, simultaneously marred by ethical lapses that expose systemic deficiencies in cultural management.
The Vedan controversy, in particular, concludes that award bodies must integrate moral due diligence—perhaps through independent ethics committees—to restore trust. As one X user commented, they are “two sides of the same coin” as national awards, highlighting the need for transparency to avoid politicization.
Ultimately, while winners like Manjummel Boys will thrive, the scandal could catalyze reforms, ensuring that future editions prioritize merit without compromising fairness. Given the event’s recent occurrence, an evolving debate is to be expected, but it underscores the power of cinema to both unite and divide Kerala society.
