Veteran actress Sarada has been selected for the prestigious JC Daniel Award for the year 2024, the highest honour instituted by the Government of Kerala for lifetime contribution to cinema. The decision was announced by Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian.
The JC Daniel Award carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a citation and a sculpture. The award will be presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Kerala State Film Awards ceremony to be held on January 25, 2026, at Nishagandhi Auditorium, Thiruvananthapuram.
The awardee was selected by a jury chaired by noted lyricist and filmmaker Sreekumaran Thampi, himself a previous recipient of the honour. Actress Urvashi and filmmaker Balu Kiriyath were members of the jury, while Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Secretary C. Ajoy served as the member secretary. At the age of 80, Sarada becomes the 32nd personality to receive this prestigious state honour.
Born as Saraswathi Devi on June 25, 1945, in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, Sarada made her entry into Malayalam cinema with Inapravukal in 1965. She soon became a cherished presence among Malayali audiences through her nuanced and dignified portrayals of women, marked by emotional depth and restraint.
Sarada won the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1968 for her unforgettable performance in Thulabharam. Over a distinguished career spanning decades, she has acted in more than 125 Malayalam films, including classics such as Murappennu, Iruttinte Athmavu, Udyogastha, Yakshi, Adimakal, Asuravithu, Nadi, Elippathayam and Rappakal.
She also holds the rare distinction of being the first Malayalam actress whose body of work was showcased in the retrospective section of the International Film Festival of Kerala, with her films screened at the 24th edition of IFFK in 2019—reaffirming her enduring legacy in Malayalam cinema.