Malayalam film industry to have its own Oscars

Thiruvananthapuram, March 5 (IANS): The Trivandrum Film Fraternity, a body of film professionals based in Kerala's state capital, has announced new film awards similar to the Oscars for the Malayalam film industry.

"On April 14 this year we have decided to present the awards after an independent agency conducts a gallop poll on all the Malayalam films that was released in 2004. The total prize money would be Rs.1 million (approx. $22,000) with 20 awards each carrying a cash prize of Rs.50,000," said veteran producer Kireedom Unni.

The prize money is same for all the categories and the awards are unique because decisions will be taken by the entire body that consists of some 200 members.

The procedure will be similar to the Oscars - every month a different 10-member committee would review all the films that is released in a month. An agency would then conduct the gallop poll.

The best three films would be selected and on Dec 31 every year and 20 award winners would be announced in a public function.

But what remains to be seen is how the Film Chamber, after a long running feud with the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, conducts these awards.