J. C. Daniel Award is the highest lifetime achievement award given in the Malayalam film industry for the outstanding contribution to the Malayalam Cinema. It was named after Dr. J.C. Daniel Nadar, the father of Malayalam Cinema.
Earlier the allocation of this annual award rested with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala which established in 1992. But after 1998, it was Kerala State Chalachitra Academy a self-governing organization under the Govt. of Kerala, who hosted this award.
The award comprises a cash prize of ₹5 Lakh, a plaque, and a citation.
Basic Facts
- Established in – 1992.
- Conferred by – Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
- First Winner – T.E. Vasudevan.
- First Actor to win J.C. Daniel Award – Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair.
- First Woman to get J.C. Daniel Award – Aranmula Ponnamma (2005).
- First Singer to win J.C. Daniel Award – K.J. Yesudas (2002).
- First Posthumous J.C. Daniel Award Winner – Jose Prakash (2011).
- Last Winner – T.V. Chandran (2022).
List of Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Field |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | T. E. Vasudevan | Producer & Distributor |
| 1993 | Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair | Actor |
| 1994 | P. Bhaskaran | Lyricist |
| 1995 | Abhayadev | Lyricist |
| 1996 | A. Vincent | Cinematographer |
| 1997 | K. Raghavan | Composer |
| 1998 | V. Dakshinamoorthy | Composer |
| 1999 | G. Devarajan | Composer |
| 2000 | M. Krishnan Nair | Director |
| 2001 | P. N. Menon | Director |
| 2002 | K. J. Yesudas | Playback Singer |
| 2004 | Madhu | Actor |
| 2005 | Aranmula Ponnamma | Actress |
| 2006 | Mankada Ravi Varma | Cinematographer |
| 2007 | P. Ramdas | Director |
| 2008 | K. Ravindran Nair | Producer |
| 2009 | K. S. Sethumadhavan | Director & Screenwriter |
| 2010 | Navodaya Appachan | Producer |
| 2011 | Jose Prakash | Actor |
| 2012 | J. Sasikumar | Director |
| 2013 | M. T. Vasudevan Nair | Screenwriter |
| 2014 | I. V. Sasi | Director |
| 2015 | K. G. George | Director |
| 2016 | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Director |
| 2017 | Sreekumaran Thampi | Lyricist, Screenwriter, Director & Producer |
| 2018 | Sheela | Actress |
| 2019 | Hariharan | Director |
| 2020 | P. Jayachandran | Singer |
| 2021 | K.P. Kumaran | Director |
| 2022 (30th) | T.V. Chandran | Director |
📝 Read More: Malayalam Cinema Facts For PSC
J. C. Daniel (1900-1975)
- Father of Malayalam Cinema.
- Director of the first silent movie in Malayalam, Vigathakumaran (1928).
- Established First Film Studio in Kerala – The Travancore National Pictures (1926).
To Know More About the Life & Achievements of J.C. Daniel, click here.
Previous Year PSC Questions:
- 2021-ലെ ജെ.സി. ഡാനിയേൽ പുരസ്കാരം നേടിയതാര്? പി. ജയചന്ദ്രൻ. (10th Prelims, First Stage, 15/5/2022)
📝SideNotes:
- K.P. Kumaran –
- Major Films –
- Rugmini – National Award for Best feature film (1988), Kerala State Film Award (1989)
- based on Madhavikutty's Rukminikkoru Pavakutty,
- Athithi (debut feature film), Thenthulli, Laxmivijayam, Thottam, Neram Pularumbol, Adipapam, Kattile pattu,
- Akasha Gopuram (2008)
- based on Henrik Ibsen's play The Master Builder.
- Gramavrikshathile Kuyil (2020, life of poet Kumaran Asan)
- Short film – Rock.
- co-screenwriter of Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Swayamvaram (1972).
- Minister for Cultural Affairs – V.N. Vasavan.
Thanks for reading!!!