# National Film Award for Best Malayalam Feature Film

The National Film Award for Best Malayalam Feature Film is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus). Since the 70th National Film Awards, the name was changed to "Best Malayalam Feature Film".
The National Film Awards, established in 1954, are the most prominent film awards in India that merit the best of the Indian cinema. The ceremony also presents awards for films in various regional languages.
Awards for films in seven regional language (Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu) started from 2nd National Film Awards which were presented on 21 December 1955. Three awards of "President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film", "Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film" and "Certificate of Merit for the Third Best Feature Film" were instituted. The later two certificate awards were discontinued from 15th National Film Awards (1967).
The first winner of the "President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam" was the 1954 film Neelakuyil. Jointly directed by P. Bhaskaran and Ramu Kariat, the film was based on a story written by Malayalam writer Uroob. It told the story of a love affair between a Dalit girl and an educated, high caste school teacher. The film is considered a landmark in Malayalam cinema history. Along with Neelakuyil, S. S. Rajan directed film Sneha Seema was honoured with a Certificate of Merit. Following is the list of Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal) recipient films produced in Malayalam language.

## Winners

Award includes 'Rajat Kamal' (Silver Lotus Award) and cash prize. Following are the award winners over the years:
Awards legends :
| * | President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film |
| * | Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film |
| * | Certificate of Merit for the Third Best Feature Film |
| * | Certificate of Merit for the Best Feature Film |
| * | Indicates a joint award for that year |
List of award films, showing the year (award ceremony), producer(s) and director(s) :
| Year | Film(s) | Producer(s) | Director(s) |
| 1954 (2nd) | Neelakuyil | Chandrathara Productions | • P. Bhaskaran • Ramu Kariat |
| 1954 (2nd) | Snehaseema | Associate Pictures | S. S. Rajan |
| 1955 (3rd) | No Award | No Award | No Award |
| 1956 (4th) | No Award | No Award | No Award |
| 1957 (5th) | Padatha Painkili | Neela Productions | P. Subramaniam |
| 1958 (6th) | Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu | T. E. Vasudevan | P. Bhaskaran |
| 1958 (6th) | Randidangazhi | Neela Productions | P. Subramaniam |
| 1959 (7th) | Chathurangam | Capt. (Dr.) G. T. Joshua | • J. D. Thottan • D. V. Swamy |
| 1960 (8th) | No Award | No Award | No Award |
| 1961 (9th) | Mudiyanaya Puthran | Chandrathara Productions | Ramu Kariat |
| 1961 (9th) | Kandam Becha Kottu | Modern Theatres | T. R. Sundaram |
| 1961 (9th) | Sabarimala Ayyappan | K. Kuppuswamy | S. M. Sriramulu Naidu |
| 1962 (10th) | Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi | Associated Producers | M. S. Mani |
| 1962 (10th) | Kalpadukal | T. R. Raghavan | K. S. Anthony |
| 1963 (11th) | Ninamaninja Kalpadukal | • K. V. Bhavadas • N. K. Karunakara Pillai • K. Parameshwaran Nair | N. N. Pisharody |
| 1963 (11th) | Doctor | H. H. Ebrahim | M. S. Mani |
| 1963 (11th) | Kalayum Kaminiyum | Neela Productions | P. Subramaniam |
| 1964 (12th) | Aadyakiranangal | • P. Bhaskaran • V. Abdullah | P. Bhaskaran |
| 1964 (12th) | Kudumbini | • P. A. Thomas • J. Sasikumar | • P. A. Thomas • J. Sasikumar |
| 1964 (12th) | Thacholi Othenan | T. K. Pareekutty | S. S. Rajan |
| 1965 (13th) | Kavyamela | T. E. Vasudevan | M. Krishnan Nair |
| 1965 (13th) | Odayil Ninnu | P. Ramaswamy | K.S.Sethumadhavan |
| 1965 (13th) | Murappennu | K. Parameswaran Nair | A. Vincent |
| 1966 (14th) | Kunjali Marikkar | T. K. Pareekutty | S. S. Rajan |
| 1967 (15th) | Anveshichu Kandethiyilla | K. Ravindran Nair | P. Bhaskaran |
| 1968 (16th) | Adhyapika | Neela Productions | P. Subramaniam |
| 1969 (17th) | Adimakal | M. O. Joseph | K. S. Sethumadhavan |
| 1970 (18th) | Ezhuthatha Kadha | Jai Maruthy Pictures | A. B. Raj |
| 1971 (19th) | Karakanakadal | Hari Pothan | K. S. Sethumadhavan |
| 1972 (20th) | Panitheeratha Veedu | K. S. R. Moorthy | K. S. Sethumadhavan |
| 1973 (21st) | Gayathri | • A. R. Shreedharan Elayidom • P. B. Ashram | P. N. Menon |
| 1974 (22nd) | Uttarayanam | Pattathuvila Karunakaran | G. Aravindan |
| 1975 (23rd) | Swapnadanam | T. Mohamed Bapu | K. G. George |
| 1976 (24th) | Manimuzhakkam | Cartoonist Thomas | P. A. Backer |
| 1977 (25th) | Kodiyettam | Kulathoor Bhaskaran Nair | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
| 1978 (26th) | Thampu | K. Ravindran Nair | G. Aravindan |
| 1979 (27th) | Peruvazhiyambalam | Prem Prakash | Padmarajan |
| 1980 (28th) | Yagam | B. Chandramani Bai | Sivan |
| 1981 (29th) | Elippathayam | K. Ravindran Nair | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
| 1982 (30th) | Chappa | P. K. Abdul Latif | P. A. Backer |
| 1983 (31st) | Malamukalile Daivam | Surya Mudra Films | P. N. Menon |
| 1984 (32nd) | Mukhamukham | K. Ravindran Nair | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
| 1985 (33rd) | Thinkalaazhcha Nalla Divasam | M. Mani | P. Padmarajan |
| 1986 (34th) | Uppu | K. M. A. Rahim | V. K. Pavithran |
| 1987 (35th) | Purushartham | P. T. K. Mohammad | K. R. Mohanan |
| 1988 (36th) | Rugmini | • S. C. Pillai • Gigy Abraham | K. P. Kumaran |
| 1989 (37th) | Mathilukal | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
| 1990 (38th) | Vasthuhara | T. Ravindranath | G. Aravindan |
| 1991 (39th) | Kadavu | M. T. Vasudevan Nair | M. T. Vasudevan Nair |
| 1992 (40th) | Swaroopam | P. T. K. Mohammed | K. R. Mohanan |
| 1993 (41st) | Vidheyan | K. Ravi | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
| 1994 (42nd) | Sukrutham | M. M. Ramachandran | Harikumar |
| 1995 (43rd) | Ormakalundayirikkanam | Salam Karassery | T. V. Chandran |
| 1996 (44th) | Desadanam | Jayaraj | Jayaraj |
| 1997 (45th) | Mangamma | NFDC | T. V. Chandran |
| 1998 (46th) | Agnisakshi | Srishti Films | Shyamaprasad |
| 1999 (47th) | Punaradhivasam | N. P. Prakash | V. K. Prakash |
| 2000 (48th) | Sayanam | M. P. Sukumaran Nair | M. P. Sukumaran Nair |
| 2000 (48th) | Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal | Grihalakshmi Films | Sathyan Anthikad |
| 2001 (49th) | Dany | T. V. Chandran | T. V. Chandran |
| 2002 (50th) | Nizhalkuthu | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
| 2003 (51st) | Saphalam | Anil Thomas | Asok R. Nath |
| 2004 (52nd) | Akale | Tom George Kolath | Shyamaprasad |
| 2005 (53rd) | Thanmathra | Century Films | Blessy |
| 2006 (54th) | Drishtantham | M. P. Sukumaran Nair | M. P. Sukumaran Nair |
| 2007 (55th) | Ore Kadal | Vindhyan N. B. | Shyamaprasad |
| 2008 (56th) | Thirakkatha | Varnachithra Big Screen | Ranjith |
| 2009 (57th) | Keralavarma Pazhassiraja | A. M. Gopalan | T. Hariharan |
| 2010 (58th) | Veettilekkulla Vazhi | B. C. Joshi | Dr. Biju |
| 2011 (59th) | Indian Rupee | August Cinema | Ranjith |
| 2012 (60th) | Celluloid | • Kamal • Ubaid | Kamal |
| 2013 (61st) | North 24 Kaatham | C. V. Sarathi | Anil Radhakrishnan Menon |
| 2014 (62nd) | Ain | 1:1.3 Entertainments | Sidhartha Siva |
| 2015 (63rd) | Pathemari | Allens Media | Salim Ahamed |
| 2016 (64th) | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | Dream Mill Cinemas and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. | Dileesh Pothan |
| 2017 (65th) | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Urvasi Theatres | Dileesh Pothan |
| 2018 (66th) | Sudani from Nigeria | Happy Hours Entertainments | Zakariya Mohammed |
| 2019 (67th) | Kalla Nottam | First Print Studio | Rahul Riji Nair |
| 2020 (68th) | Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam | Pushkar Films | Senna Hegde |
| 2021 (69th) | Home | Vijay Babu | Rojin Thomas |
| 2022 (70th) | Saudi Vellakka | Urvashi Theatres | Tharun Moorthy |