Kerala government’s J.C. Daniel Award for actor Sarada

Veteran actor Sarada has been chosen for the prestigious J.C. Daniel Award for 2024. The J.C. Daniel Award, the highest award in cinema conferred by the Kerala government annually in recognition to an individual’s lifelong contributions to Malayalam cinema, carries a purse of ₹5 lakh, a statuette, and a citation. Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian announced the award here on Friday.

A jury headed by lyricist and filmmaker Sreekumaran Thampi, who was also the recipient of the award in 2017, and consisting of actor Urvashi, filmmaker Balu Kiriyath and Kerala State Chalachitra Academys secretary C. Ajoy as member secretary, chose her for the award. The 80-year-old Sarada is the 32nd film personality to be conferred with the award

The jury noted that Sarada, for over two decades from the 1960s, became a representative of Malayali women on screen through several immortal characters in mainstream as well as independent cinema. Sarada, who portrayed the sufferings and miseries of the Malayali woman of that era through her controlled acting, won her first National Award in 1968 for the film Thulabharam. She again gained national recognition in 1972 for Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s debut film Swayamvaram and in 1977 for the Telugu film Nimajjanam. The jury also mentioned the unforgettable characters she essayed in films like Triveni, Murappennu, Mooladhanam, and Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam.

Born on June 25, 1945 in the village of Tenali in Andhra Pradesh to Venkateswara Rao and Satyavani Devi, Saraswathi Devi adopted the name Sarada while acting in her first Telugu film, Irumithralu. She made her Malayalam film debut in 1965 with the film Inapravukal, written by Muttathu Varkey and directed by Kunchacko. Subsequently, she became one of the most sought-after actors in Malayalam cinema. She has acted in over 125 Malayalam films including Udhyogastha, Iruttinte Athmavu, Yakshi, Adimakal, Asuravithu, Koottukudumbam, Nadi, Enippadikal, Elippathayam, and Rappakal.