# 53rd Kerala State Film Awards

The 53rd Kerala State Film Awards, presented by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, was announced by Saji Cherian, Minister of Cultural Affairs, Kerala on 21 July 2023.

## Writing category
### Jury

* K. C. Narayanan (chairman) :
| • K. Rekha | • M. A. Dileep |
| • C. Ajoy |

### Awards

All award recipients receive a cash prize, certificate and statuette.
| Name of award | Title of work | Awardee(s) | Cash prize |
| Best Book on Cinema | Cinemayude Bhavanadeshangal | C. S. Venkiteswaran | ₹30,000 |
| Best Article on Cinema | Punasthapanam Enna Mahendrajalam | Sabu Pravadas | ₹20,000 |

### Special Mention

All recipients receive a certificate and statuette.
| Name of award | Title | Awardee(s) |
| Book on Cinema | No award | No award |
| Article on Cinema | No award | No award |

## Film category
### Jury

Final jury :
| • Gautam Ghose (chairman) ||
| • Nemam Pushparaj | • K. M. Madhusudhanan |
| • Hari Nair | • D. Yuvaraj |
| • Gautami | • Jency Gregory |
| • C. Ajoy |
Second jury :
| • K. M. Madhusudhanan (chairman) ||
| • B. Rakesh | • Sajas Rahman |
| • Vinod Sukumaran | • C. Ajoy |
First jury :
| • Nemam Pushparaj (chairman) ||
| • V. J. James | • K. M. Sheeba |
| • Roy P. Thomas | • C. Ajoy |

### Awards

All award recipients receive a cash prize, certificate and statuette.
| Name of award | Title of film | Awardee(s) | Cash prize |
| Best Film | Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam | Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery | ₹200,000 |
| Best Film | Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam | Producer: George Sebastian | ₹200,000 |
| Second Best Film | Adithattu | Director: Jijo Antony | ₹150,000 |
| Second Best Film | Adithattu | Producer: Godjo J. | ₹150,000 |
| Best Director | Ariyippu | Mahesh Narayanan | ₹200,000 |
| Best Actor | Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam | Mammootty | ₹100,000 |
| Best Actress | Rekha | Vincy Aloshious | ₹100,000 |
| Best Character Actor | Nna Thaan Case Kodu | P. P. Kunhikrishnan | ₹50,000 |
| Best Character Actress | Saudi Vellakka | Devi Varma | ₹50,000 |
| Special Jury Award | Nna Thaan Case Kodu | Kunchacko Boban (awarded for acting) | ₹25,000 |
| Special Jury Award | Appan | Alencier Ley Lopez (awarded for acting) | ₹25,000 |
| Best Child Artist | Pallotty 90s Kids | Davinchi Santhosh (Male category) | ₹50,000 |
| Best Child Artist | Vazhakku | Thanmaya Sol A. (Female category) | ₹50,000 |
| Best Story | Pada | Kamal K. M. | ₹50,000 |
| Best Cinematography | Ela Veezha Poonchira | Manesh Madhavan | ₹25,000 |
| Best Cinematography | Vazhakku | Chandru Selvaraj | ₹25,000 |
| Best Screenplay (Original) | Nna Thaan Case Kodu | Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval | ₹50,000 |
| Best Screenplay (Adaptation) | Oru Thekkan Thallu Case | Rajesh Kumar R. | ₹50,000 |
| Best Lyrics | Viddikalude Mash ("Thiramalayanu Njan") | Rafeeq Ahammed | ₹50,000 |
| Best Music Director (songs) | Pathonpatham Noottandu ("Mazhilpeeli Ilakunnu" and "Karumban Inningu") Ayisha (All songs) | M. Jayachandran | ₹50,000 |
| Best Music Director (score) | Nna Thaan Case Kodu | Dawn Vincent | ₹50,000 |
| Best Male Singer | Pallotty 90s Kids ("Kanave Mizhiyil Unare") | Kapil Kapilan | ₹50,000 |
| Best Female Singer | Pathonpatham Noottandu ("Mayipeeli Ilakunnu Kanna") | Mridula Warrier | ₹50,000 |
| Best Editor | Thallumaala | Nishadh Yusuf | ₹50,000 |
| Best Art Director | Nna Thaan Case Kodu | Jyothish Shankar | ₹50,000 |
| Best Sync Sound | Ariyippu | Vaishak P. V. | ₹50,000 |
| Best Sound Mixing | Nna Thaan Case Kodu | Vipin Nair | ₹50,000 |
| Best Sound Design | Ela Veezha Poonchira | Ajayan Adat | ₹50,000 |
| Best Processing Lab / Colourist | Ela Veezha Poonchira | After Studios / Robert Lang | ₹25,000 |
| Best Processing Lab / Colourist | Vazhakku | iGene - DI and VFX / R. Rangarajan | ₹25,000 |
| Best Makeup Artist | Bheeshma Parvam | Ronnex Xavier | ₹50,000 |
| Best Costume Designer | Saudi Vellakka | Manjusha Radhakrishnan | ₹50,000 |
| Best Dubbing Artist | Pathonpatham Noottandu (Character: Padaveedan Thampy) | Shobi Thilakan (Male category) | ₹50,000 |
| Best Dubbing Artist | Saudi Vellakka (Character: Ayisha Rowther) | Pauly Valsan (Female category) | ₹50,000 |
| Best Choreography | Thallumaala | Shobi Paul Raj | ₹50,000 |
| Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value | Nna Thaan Case Kodu | Director: Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval | ₹100,000 |
| Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value | Nna Thaan Case Kodu | Producer: Santhosh T. Kuruvilla | ₹100,000 |
| Best Debut Director | Ela Veezha Poonchira | Shahi Kabir | ₹100,000 |
| Best Children's Film | Pallotty 90's Kids | Director: Jithin Raj | ₹100,000 |
| Best Children's Film | Pallotty 90's Kids | Producer: Sajid Yahiya | ₹150,000 |
| Best Visual Effects | Vazhakku | Anish D. Sumesh Gopal | ₹50,000 |

### Special Mention

All recipients receive a certificate and statuette.
| Name of award | Title of film | Awardee(s) | Awarded for |
| Special Mention | Ilavarambu | Biswajith S. | Direction |
| Special Mention | Vettapattikalum Ottakkarum | Rarish G. Kurup | Direction |

### Special Award in Any Category for Women/Transgender

All recipients receive a cash prize, certificate, and statuette.
| Name of award | Title of film | Awardee(s) | Awarded for | Cash prize |
| Special Award in Any Category for Women/Transgender | B 32 Muthal 44 Vare | Shruthi Sharanyam | Direction | ₹50,000 |