Muscat: In a triumphant sweep at the Kerala State Film Awards 2023, “Aadujeevitham” emerged as the big winner, taking home nine awards across various categories. This deeply moving film adaptation of Benyamin’s acclaimed novel captivated the jury, who honoured it with some of the event’s most coveted accolades.

Blessy, the visionary director behind “Aadujeevitham,” was awarded Best Director for his masterful depiction of the often overlooked struggles of emigrant life. The jury praised his ability to bring out the unknown realms of this life with both aesthetic authenticity and technical brilliance.

Prithviraj Sukumaran, who portrayed the lead character Najeeb, was awarded Best Actor (Male) for his intense and transformative performance. His portrayal, which involved a gruelling physical transformation, captured the raw desperation and helplessness of a man fighting for survival under the harshest circumstances. The jury lauded his ability to convey these emotions through subtle yet powerful body language and originality.

The film’s visual storytelling was further recognized with Sunil K S winning Best Cinematographer. His work was celebrated for its emotional depth, using a skilful blend of tonal variations and symbolism to bring the story’s poignant themes to life.

Blessy also secured the Best Screenplay (Adaptation) award, with the jury highlighting his clever exploration of cinematic possibilities to translate a significant literary work into a compelling visual narrative.

In the technical categories, Resul Pookkutty and Sarath Mohan shared the award for Best Sound Mixing, earning accolades for their precise integration of music, dialogue, and environmental sounds to create an immersive desert experience. Renjith Ambadi won Best Makeup Man for his expert work in portraying the passage of time and the varying situations faced by the film’s characters.

Finally, K R Gokul received a Special Jury Mention for his exceptional performance, noted for his natural portrayal of a character’s desperate survival efforts in the desert, which stood out even alongside the lead role.