Ganesh Kumar bags his first award

Actor and Kerala Congress (B) leader K.B. Ganesh Kumar has been selected as the best actor in the TV awards, 2007 for his eye-catching performance in the TV serial 'Madhavam' aired on Surya TV. The award for the best female actor of the year goes to Meera Vasudev. The awards were announced on Friday by state Culture Minister M.A. Baby in Thiruvananthapuram.

Ganesh Kumar, 42, a former Kerala transport minister, who is currently shooting for the upcoming Mohanlal starrer Red Chillies, said that he was elated because this is his first award. "I am extremely happy that I have got my first award when I sit in the Opposition benches, when the Left rules the state," he said. Ganesh Kumar, son of Kerala Congress (Pillai) party Chief R. Balakrishnan Pillai, has acted in more than 126 films and 38 television serials.

Meanwhile, Saji Surendran's 'Daya' (Kairali TV) has bagged the best tele series award, while T. Deepesh's 'Typewriter" won the award for the best tele-film. The second best tele-film award goes to Ansar Khan's Annayude Lillippookkal (Surya TV). P. Shajahan (Asianet News) has won the award for the most socially-relevant current affairs programme and Raj Kalesh (Amrita TV) for the best anchor.

John Brittas (Kairali TV) and Johny Lukose (Manorama News) have shared the award for the best anchor/ interviewer. R. Sreekantan Nair (Asianet) has been adjudged the best compere, S. Saratchandran (Kairali TV) the best news reader and Manjush Gopal (Asianet News) the best investigative journalist.

The other winners include: Best scriptwriter: Valsalan Vathussery (Typewriter), best story writer: Satheesh K. Satheesh (Pookkalil Manjuveezhumpol, Asianet), best actors: K.B. Ganesh Kumar (Madhavam, Surya TV) and Meera Vasudev (Kanalppoov, Kairali TV), best supporting actors: Irshad (Madhavam), Meera Nandan (Veedu, Surya TV), best child artiste: Baby Gouri Pramod (Annayude Lillippookkal), best cinematographer: Jaleel Badusha (Typewriter), best editor: Rajesh Thrissur (Annayude Lillippookkal), best music director: Sanand George (Danny, The Mandrake, Asianet), best sound recording: C.R. Chandran (Veedu), best art director: J. P. Chittarikkal (Typewriter), special jury award for actor: Balakrishnan Pappinissery (Typewriter).