For the year 2019, filmmaker Hariharan was selected for the prestigious JC Daniel award. In order to recognise the contribution of a person in the field of Malayalam cinema, the JC Daniel award is given by the state government every year.
The award, conferred annually by the State Government in appreciation of the contributions of a person to Malayalam cinema, carries a purse of 5 lakh, a plaque, and a citation.
For the prize, a jury headed by writer and filmmaker MT Vasudevan Nair selected Hariharan. Filmmaker Harikumar, Kamal, president of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, actor Vidhubala, and Secretary of State Culture Rani George are the remaining of the jury.
Hariharan, who is equally competent in modern narratives and large-scale historical productions, has consistently pursued new directions and remained ahead of the curve for most of his career. He spent seven years assisting different directors after arriving in Chennai in 1965.
Panchagni (1986), Nakhakshathangal (1986), Amrutham Gamaya (1987), Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Sargam (1992), Parinayam (1994) and Pazhassi Raja (2009) are the most popular works by Hariharan.
In previous years, veteran actor Sheela bagged the JC Daniel award last year, and legendary director Adoor Gopalakrishnan and veteran lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi were the recipients of the honour.