Filmmaker K.P. Kumaran has been chosen for the prestigious J.C. Daniel Award for 2021. The award, conferred by the State government annually in recognition to an individual’s contributions to Malayalam cinema, carries a purse of ₹5 lakh, a statuette, and a citation. Minister for Cultural Affairs V.N.Vasavan announced the award here on Saturday.
A jury consisting of playback singer P.Jayachandran, who was also the recipient of the award last year, filmmaker Sibi Malayil, Chalachitra Academy Chairman Ranjth and Culture Secretary Rani George chose Mr.Kumaran for the award. According to the jury, he provided Malayalam parallel cinema with a new aesthetic and visual language in a career spanning around fifty years.
They further observed that he has since his debut with the short film ‘The Rock’ in 1972 and ‘Athithi’ in 1975 to ‘Gramavrikshathile Kuyil’ made in 2020 at the year of 83, has made sincere and meaningful use of the cinematic medium. ‘Athithi’, in which the real and the surreal are entwined, was one of the pioneering works of Malayalam new wave.
th/kerala