'Aatam' poster.
Credit: X/ @AbGeorge_
Thiruvananthapuram: The crew of Malayalam film Aattam is quite surprised and excited as the low budget film with no superstars bagged the best feature film award at the 70th National Awards.
Debutant director Anand Ekarshi told the media that the National Award for the best film was much beyond the crew's expectations. The honour has proved that the success of a film depends on the theme and relevance.
Aattam bagged three honours at the National Awards. Mahesh Bhuvanend won the award for editing. The film also won the award for best screenplay.
Aattam is a chamber drama film based on the sexual harassment allegation raised by the lone woman member of a theatre group against a prominent male actor. The film already won many honours including the 2023 Grand Jury Award at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.
Vinay Forrt, Kalabhavan Shajohn and Zarin Shihab play the lead roles in the film.
Saudi Vellakka CC.225/2009, which won the award for best Malayalam film, is also a low budget film with comparatively new faces like Lukman Avaran playing the lead roles. It was also the second movie of director Tharun Moorthy.
The film narrates how a youngster who had been dreaming of a visa to the Gulf was caught up in a legal tangle over a petty issue with a neighbour. The film also won the best female playback singer award for Bombay Jayashri.