Cheers erupted at the home of Pulloorampara native Joshy Benedict as the 70th National Film Awards were announced, with his debut work, A Coconut Tree, receiving the prestigious award for Best Animated Short Film.
The eight-and-a-half-minute film, written and directed by Joshy, tells the story of a small family finding solace in a coconut tree during a crisis. Notably, the film is entirely devoid of dialogue or narration, relying solely on music and sound effects to convey its message. Popular musician Bijibal composed the score, adding depth to the film’s portrayal of humanity’s intrinsic connection with nature.
Joshy, a freelance animator and illustrator, shot the film in 2021 and submitted it for censorship in 2022. With a background that includes work as a creative director on a collection of stories by MT Vasudevan Nair and animation for the poem collection Kalkkandam by Kunjunni Mash, Joshy’s journey in the world of art began after completing his degree from the Government College of Fine Arts in Thrissur.
Joshy is supported by his wife, Ancy Thomas, and their son, Benet Joshy.
