KP Kumaran, the veteran filmmaker, has been selected for the JC Daniel Award, the highest award in Malayalam cinema presented by the Kerala government. The Award for this year was announced by Cultural Affairs Minister VV Vasavan on Saturday. 

The filmmaker is popularly known for co-authoring the script of Swayamvaram (1972), directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. His major works include Rugmini which won the Nation Film Award for the Best Feature Film in Malayalam in 1989, Thenthulli, Laxmivijayam and Thottam. He made his debut feature film Athithi in 1975. Kumaran adapted Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen's 1892 play The Master Builder as Akasha Gopuram (2008), starring Mohanlal and Nithya Menon. In 2020, Kumaran directed Gramavrikshathile Kuyil which revolves around the life of Kumaran Asan, poet, social reformer and philosopher.

In 2020, the award was given to P Jayachandran, the veteran playback singer. JC Daniel Award is presented annually by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. The award ceremonies began in 1992 to commemorate the contribution of the ‘father of Malayalam Cinema’ JC Daniel.