‘Ayyappanum Koshiyum’ bags top honours at the 68th National Film Awards

The 68th National Film Awards has been announced on Friday (July 22) at 4 pm in New Delhi. This year, the films released in 2020 were also recognized due to the delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the 305 feature films submitted at the awards, 295 were considered. Suriya and Ajay Devgn shared the National Film Award for Best Actor, for the films ‘Soorarai Pottru’ and ‘Tanhaji’ respectively. Aparna Balamurali won the Best Actress award for ‘Soorarai Pottru’. The award for Best Direction was won by the late Sachidanandan KR, for his film ‘Ayyappanum Koshiyum’. The film ‘Ayyappanum Koshiyum’ won some of the top honours at the 68th National Film Awards. Take a look.

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Sachidanandan KR aka Sachy won the award for Best Direction for his film ‘Ayyappanum Koshiyum’ posthumously. The film was released on 7 February 2020. The film spoke about the tiff between Koshiy, an ex-Havildar, and Ayyappan, a sub-inspector. Unfortunately, Sachy passed away on June 18, 2020, a few months after the release, making ‘Ayyappanum Koshiyum’ his last film.

68th National Film Awards: Sachy bags the award for best direction posthumously

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Biju Menon played the role of Ayyappan Nair in ‘Ayyappanum Koshiyum’. Ayyappan Nair is a sub-inspector at the Attappadi police station. He is a dutiful cop, however, everything goes haywire when an influential man Koshiy Kurien, locks horns with him. Biju Menon, who has always shapeshifted into versatile characters stepped into the shoes of Ayyappan Nair, and his performance was par excellence.

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Nanjiamma won the award for Best playback singer (female) at the 68th National Film Awards. Nanjiamma, a 62-year-old singer from Attappady is undoubtedly late Sachy’s contribution to Malayalam cinema. A folk singer, Nanjiamma has sung at many national and international events, but Sachy’s decision of asking her to sing the folk song ‘Kalakkatha’, which was also penned by her, changed the trajectory of her life and career. She is undoubtedly a rare gem, and her talent is exceptional, and bagged several projects later.

A tete-a-tete with sensational singer-actor Nanjamma of the 'Kalakkatha Sandana Meram'

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‘Ayyappanum Koshiyum’ is all about the tiff between the titular characters Ayyappan and Koshiy. And hence fight is undoubtedly a crucial part of the film. The power-packed action sequences, especially the one towards the climax of the film glued the audience to the screen, all thanks to Rajasekhar, Mafia Sasi, and Supreme Sunder, who choreographed the stunt. The trio bagged the National award for best action direction.

(Pic courtesy: Facebook)