Malayalam film director, Priyanandanan is no stranger to national awards. His debut film Neythukaran won Murali a National Award for Best Actor in 2001.
And now, the filmmaker has struck pay dirt the second time around with his second film, Pulijanmam, which won a National Award for Best Film at the 54th National awards announced on Tuesday. Murali, incidentally is the protagonist of Pulijanmam as well.
It is after eight years that a Malayalam film is chosen as the best film in India. Jayaraj's Shantham was the last Malayalam film to win the National Award for Best Film, in 2000 (48th National awards).

