The Kerala government on Friday (October 31, 2025) appointed Academy Award-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty the chairperson of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
He will be replacing actor Prem Kumar who was appointed the interim chairperson in September 2024 following the resignation of filmmaker Ranjith. Mr. Prem Kumar was also holding the post of the vice-chairperson of the academy. Actor Kukku Parameswaran has now been appointed the vice-chairperson.
As per the government order issued on Friday, the general council and the executive board was last reconstituted in March 2022. Some of the new faces in the general council include filmmaker Amal Neerad, screenwriter Syam Pushkaran and singer Sithara Krishnakumar. The reconstitution of the committees is being carried out at a time when hardly seven months remain in the current government’s term.
The Chalachitra Academy is a key institution under the Culture department, which organises the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), coordinates the activities related to the Kerala State Film Awards, and is also involved in promoting film studies and research as well as archiving work.