National Award Winners (Malayalam)
Malayalam Cinema has produced some of the India's finest artists who have gone to claim national and international fame for their excellence in front and behind the camera. 

This post lists the National Award Winners of Malayalam Cinema in the categories of Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actresses.

National Award Winners of Malayalam Cinema

National Award for Best Film

  • Instituted in – 1953.
  • Sponsored by – Directorate of Film Festivals.
  • Former Name – President's Gold Medal for Best Feature Film.
  • Prize – Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) ₹ 2,50,000/-
  • Total awarded – 67 times.
  • First Winner – Shyamchi Aai.
  • Last Winner (2019) – Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (Director: Priyadarshan).
FilmDirectorYear
ChemmeenRamu Kariat1965
SwayamvaramAdoor Gopalakrishnan1972
NirmalyamM. T. Vasudevan Nair1973
ChidambaramG. Aravindan1985
PiraviShaji N. Karun1988
KathapurushanAdoor Gopalakrishnan1995
VanaprasthamShaji N. Karun & Mohanlal1999
ShanthamJayaraj2000
PulijanmamPriyanandanan2006
Kutty SrankShaji N. Karun2009
Adaminte Makan AbuSalim Ahamed2010
Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian SeaPriyadarshan2019

National Award for Best Director

  • Instituted in – 1964.
  • Sponsored by – Directorate of Film Festivals.
  • Former Name – Award for excellence in direction (1967–1976).
  • Prize – Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus), ₹ 2,50,000.
  • First awarded – 1967.
  • Total awarded – 53.
  • First winner – Satyajit Ray.
  • Last Winner (2022) – Sachy (Ayyappanum Koshiyam).
  • Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of Director (2019) – Mathukutty Xavier (Helen).
DirectorFilmYear
Adoor GopalakrishnanSwayamvaram
Mukhamukham
Anantaram
Mathilukal
Naalu Pennungal
    		1972
    1984
    1987
    1989
    2007
      G. AravindanKanchana Sita
      Thampu
      Oridathu
        		1977
        1978
        1986
          Shaji N. Karun
          Piravi

            1988
              JayarajKaliyattam
              Bhayanakam
                		1997
                2017
                  Rajeevnath
                  Janani

                    1998
                      Sachidanandan KR
                      (Sachy)
                      Ayyappanum Koshiyam

                        2022

                          National Award for Best Actor

                          National Award Winning Actors of Malayalam
                          • Instituted in – 1954.
                          • Sponsored by – Directorate of Film Festivals.
                          • Former Name – Bharat Award (1968–1974).
                          • Prize – Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) ₹50,000.
                          • Total awarded – 58
                          • First awarded – 1967
                          • Most awards – Amitabh Bachchan (4 awards).
                          • Last winner (2019) – Manoj Bajpayee (Bhonsle) & Dhanush (Asuran).
                          ActorFilmYear
                          P. J. AntonyNirmalyam1973
                          Bharath GopiKodiyettam1977
                          Balan K. NairOppol1980
                          PremjiPiravi1988
                          MammoottyMathilukal
                          Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha                          		1989
                          MohanlalBharatham1991
                          MammoottyPonthan Mada Vidheyan1993
                          Balachandra MenonSamaantharangal1997
                          Suresh GopiKaliyattam1997
                          Mammootty
                          (Ajay Devgn)                          		Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
                          (Zakhm)                          		1998
                          MohanlalVanaprastham1999
                          MuraliNeythukaran2001
                          Salim Kumar
                          (                          Dhanush)                          		Adaminte Makan Abu
                          (Aadukalam)                          		2010
                          Suraj Venjaramoodu
                          (Rajkumar Rao)                          		Perariyathavar
                          (Shahid)                          		2013

                          National Award for Best Actress

                          National Award Winning Actresses - Malayalam
                          • Instituted in – 1954.
                          • Sponsored by – Directorate of Film Festivals.
                          • Former Name – Urvashi Award (1967–1973).
                          • Prize – Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) ₹50,000 (US$700).
                          • First awarded – 1967.
                          • Total awarded – 54.
                          • First winner – Nargis Dutt.
                          • Most awards – Shabana Azmi (5 awards).
                          • Last winner (2019) – Kangana Ranaut (Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi & Panga).
                          ActressFilmYear
                          SharadaThulabharam
                          Swayamvaram
                            		1968
                            1972
                              Monisha UnniNakhakshathangal1986
                              ShobanaManichitrathazhu1993
                              Meera JasminePaadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam2003
                              Surabhi LakshmiMinnaminungu – the Firefly2016

                              SideNotes:

                              • Sharada has won a second National Film Award for the Best Actress in a Telugu film, Nimajjanam (1976).
                              • Shobana also won a National award a second time for an English film, Mitr My Friend (2001).