Middle East based jeweller to sponsor film awards

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 2 (IANS) The Middle East based Atlas Jewellery has decided to sponsor cash awards of Rs.550,000 ($12,000)for the Kerala Film Critics Award (KFCA).

"It was only recently that I came to know that the prestigious Film Critics Award did not carry a cash prize. All what was given was a certificate. I myself being a film producer, felt that this was not proper and decided to put in the money," M.M.Ramachandran, chairman of Atlas, told reporters here Friday.

Atlas has a string of jewellery shops in all the Middle East countries.

"Consequent to Atlas coming forward with this contribution, the 29th annual Film Critics Award scheduled here in February, would see cash awards being given along with the certificate," Manarkayam Baby, general secretary of the KFCA, said.

With the Atlas sponsorship, the producer of the best film would be given Rs.75,000, while the best director would get Rs.25,000.

The best actor and actress would get Rs.25,000 each.

"In all there would be 25 awards carrying cash prizes," Ramachandran said.

Film Critics award is a much sought after award by the Malayalam film fraternity on account of the stringent selection procedure.