Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress is an honour presented annually at the Kerala State Film Awards of India since 1969 to an actress for the best performance within the Malayalam film industry. Until 1997, the awards were managed directly by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Since 1998, the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, an autonomous non-profit organisation functioning under the Department of Cultural Affairs, has been exercising control over the awards. The awardees, decided by an independent jury formed by the academy, are declared by the Minister for Cultural Affairs and are presented by the Chief Minister.
The 1st Kerala State Film Awards ceremony was held in 1970 with Sheela receiving the Best Actress award for her role in Kallichellamma. The following year, Sharada was recognised for her performances in two filmsThriveni and Thara. Since then, several actresses have been awarded for more than one film during a year.
Throughout the years, accounting for ties and repeat winners, the Government of Kerala has presented a total of 51 Best Actress awards to 34 different actresses. Urvashi has been the most frequent winner in this category, with five awards. She is followed by Sheela and Srividya with three awards each. As of 2018, nine actressesJayabharathi, Seema, Samyuktha Varma, Suhasini Maniratnam, Navya Nair, Meera Jasmine, Kavya Madhavan, Shweta Menon and Parvathy Thiruvothu
have won the award two times in their careers. The 2005 ceremony was the only occasion when the category was tied; Kavya Madhavan and Geetu Mohandas shared the award for their performances in Perumazhakkalam, and Akale and Oridam respectively. The most recent recipient, Nimisha Sajayan, was awarded for her role in Oru Kuprasidha Payyan and Chola in 2018.
Winners
Year | Recipient | Film | |
1969 | Sheela | Kallichellamma | |
1970 | Sharada | Thriveni Thara | |
1971 | Sheela | Oru Penninte Kadha Sarasayya Ummachu | |
1972 | Jayabharathi | ||
1973 | Jayabharathi | Madhavikutty Gayathri | |
1974 | Lakshmi | Chattakari | |
1975 | Rani Chandra | Swapnadanam | |
1976 | Sheela | Anubhavam | |
1977 | Santhakumari | Chuvanna Vithukal | |
1978 | Shoba | Ente Neelakaasham | |
1979 | Srividya | Edavazhiyile Poocha Minda Poocha Jeevitham Oru Gaanam | |
1980 | Poornima Jayaram | Manjil Virinja Pookkal | |
1981 | Jalaja | Venal | |
1982 | Madhavi | Ormakkayi | |
1983 | Srividya | Rachana | |
1984 | Seema | Aksharangal Aalkkoottathil Thaniye | |
1985 | Seema | Anubandham | |
1986 | Shari | Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal | |
1987 | Suhasini | Ezhuthappurangal | |
1988 | Anju | Rugmini | |
1989 | Urvashi | Mazhavilkavadi Varthamana Kalam | |
1990 | Urvashi | Thalayanamanthram | |
1991 | Urvashi | Kadinjool Kalyanam Kakkathollayiram Bharatham Mukha Chithram | |
1992 | Srividya | Daivathinte Vikrithikal | |
1993 | Shobana | Manichitrathazhu | |
1994 | Shanthi Krishna | Chakoram | |
1995 | Urvashi | Kazhakam | |
1996 | Manju Warrier | Ee Puzhayum Kadannu | |
1997 | Jomol | Ennu Swantham Janakikutty | |
1998 | Sangita | Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala | |
1999 | Samyuktha Varma | Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal | |
2000 | Samyuktha Varma | Madhuranombarakattu Mazha Swayamvara Panthal | |
2001 | Suhasini | Theerthadanam | |
2002 | Navya Nair | Nandanam | |
2003 | Meera Jasmine | Kasthooriman ' | |
2004 | Kavya Madhavan* | Perumazhakkalam | |
2004 | Geetu Mohandas* | Akale Oridam | |
2005 | Navya Nair | Saira Kanne Madanguka | |
2006 | Urvashi | Madhuchandralekha | |
2007 | Meera Jasmine | Ore Kadal | |
2008 | Priyanka Nair | Vilapangalkappuram | |
2009 | Swetha Menon | ' | |
2010 | Kavya Madhavan | Khaddama | |
2011 | Swetha Menon | Salt N' Pepper | |
2012 | Rima Kallingal | 22 Female Kottayam Nidra | |
2013 | Ann Augustine | Artist | |
2014 | Nazriya Nazim | Bangalore Days Ohm Shanthi Oshaana | |
2015 | Parvathy Thiruvothu | Charlie Ennu Ninte Moideen | |
2016 | Rajisha Vijayan | Anuraga Karikkin Vellam | |
2017 | Parvathy Thiruvothu | Take Off | |
2018 | Nimisha Sajayan | Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Chola |