New generation artistes edged out seasoned seniors, including superstar Mammootty, at the 2014 Kerala State Film Awards that were announced here on Monday.
While upcoming star Nivin Pauly and Sudev Nair shared the best actor award, the best actress award went to Nazriya Nazim. Pauly got the award for his performance in films "1983" and "Bangalore Days", while Nair, who is Mumbai-based, got it for his stellar performance in "My Life Partner" - which tells the emotional relationship between two men. Nazim, who got married to Malayalam actor Fahad Fazil, last year got the award for her roles in "Om Shanthi Oshana" and "Bangalore Days".
"All the good things in my life appears to have come after my marriage and I dedicate this award to him (Fahad). 'Bangalore Days' was the last film that I acted before marriage," said Nasim, who was busy shopping when she received the news of winning the award.
Asked if she would start acting again, she shot back: "I have never said I will not act again."
Pauly, who is the current top star in Malayalam industry, said he owes this award to the directors of the films which won him his first state award for the best actor. An engineer by profession, Pauly took up acting after quitting his job as a techie with IT major Infosys.
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The best film award went to "Ottal" directed by Jayaraj and the best director award went to Sanalkumar Sasidharan for his film "Oralpokam".
Announcing the awards, state Cinema Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the award jury headed by veteran film personality John Paul had suggested that in the best interests of deciding the awards, instead of the jury team watching all the entries in one sitting, it would be better if there is a preliminary jury which can watch all the films that are released in a month and then they make their recommendations to the award jury.
"This is a good suggestion and it would be looked into. They have also recommended for giving subsidy to all Malayalam films," he said.
