Kerala honours Yesudas

Singer K J Yesudas will be honoured with Kerala's prestigious J C Daniel award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Malayalam cinema.

The state government has instituted the award in the memory of Daniel, the father of Malayalam cinema.

The award, which includes Rs 50,000 (approximately $1,062) and a citation, will be presented to Yesudas at the state film awards ceremony, said state Cultural Minister G Karthikeyan, and added the government was seriously contemplating increasing the cash prize to Rs 1 lakh (approximately $2,123).

He also said the Chala Chitra Academy was looking at expanding its museum and archives. A plan to set up an international film centre, at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore (approximately $849,361) at the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, and a film and video park is also under way. The centre would be completed in four stages, Karthikeyan said.

Academy Chairman P K Rajeev Kumar said the next Kerala International Film Festival would be held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 12-19; the festival's detailed schedule is expected at a later date.