Mammootty, Mohanlal bag Asianet film awards yet again

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Malayalam superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal, who have dominated the Kerala film scene ever since they debuted over 30 years ago, have bagged the top honours at the 13th Ujala-Asianet Film Awards announced here Saturday.

Mammootty got the best actor award for his roles in films like “Pranchiettan”, “The Saint”, “Kutty Shranku” and “Best Actor”, all which released this year. “Pranchiettan”, directed by Renjith, bagged the best film award.

Mohanlal, who has acted in nearly 300 films, was named for the Asianet Golden Star Award for his overall contribution to cinema. The special award had gone to Mammootty, who is in his 50s, last year.

Asianet vice-president M.R. Rajan, who announced the awards here Saturday, said there were 28 awards in various categories.

“The awards will be distributed at Kochi on January 9 and for the first time we have decided to give an award for Tamil films as well. Vijay, for his various films, has got the popular hero award in Tamil films,” said Rajan.

Popular south Indian actress Nayantara won the best actress award for her role in “Bodyguard”.

The best director award went to popular producer-actor-director Lal for the film “In Ghost House Inn”.

The award for the most popular actor and actress went to Dileep and Mamta Mohandas, respectively, for their roles in several films released during 2010.

Jayasurya was selected as the Youth Icon of the Year.

Asianet is the first Malayalam TV channel that went on air in the early 1990s.