Kerala Film Critics Awards 2025: Full Winners List - Mohanlal Named Best Actor, Eko Wins Best Film

Kerala Film Critics Awards 2025: The winners of the 49th Kerala Film Critics Awards for 2025 were announced on April 29, with Eko taking the top honour as Best Film. Directed by Dinjith Ayyathan and produced by M.R.K. Jayaram, the film emerged as the winner from among around 60 entries considered for this year's awards.

Veteran actor Mohanlal was selected as Best Actor for his performances in Thudarum and Hridayapoorvam. The Best Actress award was shared by Kalyani Priyadarshan for Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra and Anaswara Rajan for Rekhachithram and Mr. and Mrs. Bachelor.

The Best Director award went to Dominic Arun for Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra. Rekhachithram, directed by Jofin T. Chacko and produced by Venu Kunnappilly, was chosen as the Second Best Film.

The awards were announced by Kerala Film Critics Association president and jury chairman Dr. George Onakkoor along with general secretary Thekkinkad Joseph. According to the association, the Kerala Film Critics Awards is the only film award in the state after the State Film Awards where entries are invited and winners are decided by a jury.

Singer and composer M. G. Sreekumar will receive the Chalachithra Rathnam award for his overall contribution to cinema. Filmmaker Priyadarshan has been selected for the Critics Ruby Jubilee Award for his long-standing contribution as a writer and director.

The Chalachithra Prathibha Puraskaram will be presented to actor-producer T.G. Ravi, actor and costume designer Indrans, lyricist and writer Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, producer Kalliyoor Sasi, actress Urmila Unni, and singer B. Arundhathi.

Among the supporting performance categories, Prakash Varma (Thudarum) and Dileesh Pothan (Ronth) shared the Second Best Actor award, while Honey Rose (Rachel) and Shubha Wayanad (Shanthi: The Reflection of Truth) were selected as Second Best Actress winners.

Special Jury Awards for acting excellence were given to Dr. Manoj Govindan (Periyon), Sangeeth Prathap (Hridayapoorvam), Sandeep Pradeep (Eko), Twinkle Joby (A Pregnant Widow), and Meenakshi (Private).

In the technical categories, Jakes Bejoy won Best Music Director for Narivetta and Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, while Sithara Krishnakumar and J.R. Divya Nair shared the Best Female Playback Singer award. Navaneeth Unnikrishnan won Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Vidaparayaam" from Hridayapoorvam.

Other major winners included Sarvam Maya as Best Popular Film, Daivathankunnu and Pachatheyyam as Best Children's Film, and Victoria as Best Women-Centric Film.

The Best other Language Film award was given to Parasakthi, directed by Sudha Kongara.

Full Winners List - Kerala Film Critics Awards 2025

Best Film: Eko

Best Director: Dominic Arun (Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra)

Best Actor: Mohanlal (Thudarum, Hridayapoorvam)

Best Actress: Kalyani Priyadarshan (Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra), Anaswara Rajan (Rekhachithram, Mr. and Mrs. Bachelor)

Chalachithra Rathnam: M. G. Sreekumar

Critics Ruby Jubilee Award: Priyadarshan

Chalachithra Prathibha Puraskaram: T.G. Ravi, Indrans, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, Kalliyoor Sasi, Urmila Unni, B. Arundhathi

Second Best Film: Rekhachithram

Second Best Actor: Prakash Varma (Thudarum), Dileesh Pothan (Ronth)

Second Best Actress: Honey Rose (Rachel), Shubha Wayanad (Shanthi: The Reflection of Truth)

Special Jury Award for Acting Excellence: Dr. Manoj Govindan (Periyon), Sangeeth Prathap (Hridayapoorvam), Sandeep Pradeep (Eko), Twinkle Joby (A Pregnant Widow), Meenakshi (Private)

Best Child Artist: Dharmik Sudhakaran (Pachatheyyam), Devananda Jibin (Kalyanamaram)

Best Story: G.R. Indugopan (Ponman)

Best Screenplay: Rajesh Thillankeri (A Pregnant Widow)

Best Lyricist: Mahesh Gopal (Mr. and Mrs. Bachelor), Murali Neelambari (Vadu)

Best Music Director: Jakes Bejoy (Narivetta, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra)

Best Male Playback Singer: Navaneeth Unnikrishnan ("Vidaparayaam" - Hridayapoorvam)

Best Female Playback Singer: Sithara Krishnakumar ("Minnalvala" - Narivetta), J.R. Divya Nair ("Madhuramayoru Kokila Nadam" - Nerariyum Nerathu)

Best Cinematographer: Muhammed A (Thantapperu)

Best Editor: Praveen Prabhakar (Kalamkaval)

Best Sound Mixing: M.R. Rajakrishnan (L2: Empuraan)

Best Art Director: Sunil Lavanya (Jagala)

Best Makeup Artist: Ronex Xavier (Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra)

Best Costume Design: Minima Shaji (Moonnam Nombaram)

Best Popular Film: Sarvam Maya

Best Children's Film: Daivathankunnu, Pachatheyyam

Best National Integration Film: Khidki Gaav

Best Women-Centric Film: Victoria

Best Purpose-Driven Film: Samastha Lokah, Mindiyum Paranjum, Moonwalk, Chinna Chinna Aasai, Karuthal

Best Environmental Film: Kalyanamaram, Bhoothalam

Best Socially Relevant Film: Arik, Swaalih

Best Biblical Film: Moonnam Nombaram

Best Newcomer Talents:

Actress: Riya Shibu (Sarvam Maya)

Director: Jithin K. Jose (Kalamkaval), Sharan Venugopal (Narayaneente Moonnanmakkal), Prashanth Vijay (Ithiri Neram), Dr. Manoj Govindan (Nobody), Shaju Valappan (Nizhal Vyapaarikal)

Screenplay: Shanthi (Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra)

Best Other Language Film: Parasakthi (Director: Sudha Kongara)