L2: Empuraan star Prithviraj Sukumaran triumphs over Mammootty to win Best Actor at Kerala State Film Awards

At the 54th Kerala State Film Awards awards ceremony held in South India yesterday, L2: Empuraan actor Prithviraj Sukumaran emerged triumphant, clinching the Best Actor title for his stirring performance in Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life), beating veterans including Mammootty, who was widely considered a frontrunner for his subtle and poignant turn in Kaathal: The Core.

This marks Prithviraj’s third win in the Best Actor category after Vaasthavam (2006) and Celluloid (2013), solidifying his reputation as one of Malayalam cinema’s most committed performers. His transformation into Najeeb—a Malayali migrant trapped in modern slavery in the Gulf—was described by critics as both haunting and physically demanding. The actor lost over 30 kilos to embody the role, filmed over several years across harsh desert terrains.

Directed by Blessy and based on Benyamin’s best-selling novel, Aadujeevitham also dominated the awards ceremony, winning a total of nine awards, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Blessy.

The jury, chaired by acclaimed filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, acknowledged Prithviraj’s role as a “masterclass in immersive acting,” while Blessy was celebrated for his “aesthetic authenticity and directorial audacity.”

Although Mammootty missed out on Best Actor, Kaathal: The Core, directed by Jeo Baby, was honored as Best Film, highlighting its quiet emotional depth and progressive storytelling. The Best Actress award was jointly awarded to Urvashi (Ullozhukku) and Beena R Chandran (Thadavu).