Beena Chandran Wins Best Actress At 54th Kerala State Film Awards For Thadavu

The 54th Kerala State Film Awards winners were announced on August 16. Actress Beena R Chandran took home the prestigious Best Actress award for her exceptional performance in Thadavu, which was released in theatres in October 2023. The jury of the prestigious Film Awards also honoured Urvashi as the Best Actress for her performance in Ullozhukku. In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, Beena R Chandran is a dedicated theatre artist and teacher in Palakkad district. She expressed her joy and pride over this monumental achievement. After bagging the award, Beena said in an interview, “I am incredibly happy right now. I work as a UP school teacher and also participate in theatre plays. Amidst this routine, I have managed to be a part of the film industry as well. Thadavu was shot during the summer vacation in 2022”.

Beena also shared the happiness of being honoured alongside one of the most renowned actors in the industry. She said, “Today, I found out that I had won the award while I was teaching. I feel immense gratitude towards the jury for placing me alongside a legend like Urvashi chechi. From a young age, I have been keenly observing and greatly admiring her acting. The jury could have easily overlooked me and given the award solely to Urvashi chechi, so I will always be grateful for their gesture to include me as well.”

Fazil Razak, the director of Thadavu, also earned the much-deserved recognition at the prestigious award ceremony, winning the award for Best Debutant Director. His direction has been hailed for bringing out the nuanced performances of the cast, contributing to the film’s impactful narrative.

Written and directed by Fazil Razak, Thadavu boasts an ensemble cast of actors including Beena R Chandran, MN Anitha, Vappu, PP Subramaniam, and Ishak Musafir. The film’s intense storyline revolves around Geetha (essayed by Beena R Chandran), a solitary play school teacher facing a dire existence. Diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, the teacher devises a desperate plan to commit a crime, hoping to access the medical aid available to prison inmates.

The film was produced under the banner of FR Productions and Bunch of Coconuts. The cinematography for the project is done by Mridul S, and Vinayak Suthan handled the editing work. The music in the film was crooned by Vysakh Somnath. The film’s gripping narrative and Beena R Chandran’s compelling performance have struck a chord with audiences and critics alike.