Nivin Pauly, Sudev Nair, Nazriya Nizam bag honours; Ottaal best film

THIRUVANANTHPAURAM: The 45th State Film Award jury struck a perfect balance between commercial and indie efforts. While two leading lights of the new generation wave – Nivin Pauly and Nazriya Nizam – won the best actor awards, veteran Jayaraj’s indie film on child labour Ottaal, based on Anton Chekov’s Vanka, won the award for the best film. My Life Partner, a largely unseen film on homosexuality directed by debutant Padmakumar, was adjudged the second best film.

Sanalkumar Sasidharan was adjudged the best director for his experimental film Oraal Pokkam. Anjali Menon’s blockbuster Bangalore Days won another prestigious award besides the best actor awards for Nivin Pauly and Nazriya Nizam: best screenplay for Anjali Menon.

Anoop Menon, a popular mainstream name, won the best character actor award. Siddhartha Siva’s highly feted Ain, which won the national award for the best Malayalam film, had to be content with the prize for the best story. Mustafa, who won a special jury mention at the national level, was ignored locally.

Instead, Sudev Nair, the protagonist of My Life Partner, was the state jury’s surprise package. He shared the best actor honours with Nivin Pauly.

Besides Bangalore Days, Om Shanthi Osana and Iyyobinte Pushthakam were the other two commercial hits that won a clutch of awards.

While Jude Anthony Joseph’s OSO won the prestigious award for the popular film with aesthetic appeal, Iyyobinte Pushthakam won for its director Amal Neerad the best cinematographer award.