November 14: The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will mark the birth centenary of Prem Nazir, one of Malayalam cinema’s best-loved leading men, at its 57th edition in Goa from November 20, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry announced this week. The tribute caps a strong year for Malayalam cinema at the national level: at the 72nd National Film Awards, Mammootty shared Best Actor for Bramayugam and Feminichi Fathima was named Best Malayalam Film.
Key highlights
- Prem Nazir centenary: IFFI 2026 will honour him alongside seven other film figures, including Uttam Kumar.
- Best Actor (shared): Mammootty for Bramayugam.
- Best Malayalam Film: Feminichi Fathima, directed by Fasil Muhammed.
- Best Cinematography: Shehnad Jalal for Bramayugam.
- Best Female Playback Singer: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi for “Angu Vaana Konilu” in A.R.M.
Malayalam’s National Film Awards
| Award | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Actor in a Leading Role (shared) | Mammootty | Bramayugam |
| Best Malayalam Film | Fasil Muhammed (director) | Feminichi Fathima |
| Best Cinematography | Shehnad Jalal | Bramayugam |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Vaikom Vijayalakshmi (“Angu Vaana Konilu”) | A.R.M |
| Special Mention (non-feature) | Ananda Jyothi (Jose Antony) | Bhadra-Kali Natakam |
Bramayugam’s double
Bramayugam won two of the four Malayalam feature awards: Mammootty’s shared Best Actor prize and Shehnad Jalal’s cinematography award. Feminichi Fathima, a smaller film, took the Best Malayalam Film award, and A.R.M won for playback singing through Vaikom Vijayalakshmi.
Prem Nazir at IFFI
IFFI’s centenary tributes this year cover eight film figures: filmmakers Shakti Samanta and Raj Khosla, actors Uttam Kumar, Suryakant Mandhare, Prem Nazir and Raj Kumar, and music composers O.P. Nayyar and Ravi. Prem Nazir is the only Malayalam film figure on the list.
Our calculation
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Malayalam awards in the feature section | 4 |
| Of which won by Bramayugam | 2 |
| Non-feature special mentions | 1 |
| Film figures in IFFI’s centenary tributes | 8, including Prem Nazir |
What it means for India and Asia
Malayalam cinema is known well beyond Kerala for films that travel to festivals and to streaming audiences across India. National awards for an established star such as Mammootty and for a smaller film such as Feminichi Fathima reflect both sides of that industry. Malayalam films also have a large audience in the Gulf countries, where many people from Kerala live and work.
What to watch
- The Prem Nazir centenary programme at IFFI in Goa, November 20–28.
- Malayalam titles in IFFI’s Indian Panorama.
- The Kerala State Film Awards and the International Film Festival of Kerala, usually held in December.
Mammootty, who shared the National Film Award for Best Actor for Bramayugam, in 2022. Image: Firoze Edassery, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo source · Licence
Sources
- PIB (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting): 72nd National Film Awards for the year 2024 announced
- PIB (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting): IFFI 2026 curtain raiser
The Entertainment Desk covers cinema from India, Asia and Hollywood: releases, box office, awards and festivals, reported from official announcements. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
