Fazil Razak’s Moham Wins Big at Moscow, Amrutha Krishnakumar Bags Best Actress

Malayalam filmmaker Fazil Razak has achieved a major international milestone with his second feature Moham (Desire), which won the Best Film award at the Moscow International Film Festival (48th edition, April 16–23). The psychological drama also saw its lead, Amrutha Krishnakumar, being honoured with the Best Actress award for her performance as Amala—marking a historic moment as the first Malayalam film to secure this recognition at the festival.

Screened in the prestigious Main Competition section, Moham follows a gripping narrative. The story revolves around Shanu, a man attempting to evade the law, who manipulates Amala—a woman battling psychological struggles. Their journey on a stolen bike unfolds as a tense exploration of desire, survival, and the consequences of human choices.

The film builds on Fazil Razak’s growing reputation after his debut Thadavu, which earned accolades at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), including the Rajatha Chakoram awards for Best Film and Best Director.

Amrutha Krishnakumar has also co-written Moham alongside Fazil Razak, Ishak Musafir, and cinematographer Mridul S Vinayak. The ensemble cast features Beena R Chandran, Gauthami Gopan, Vineeth Vasudevan, Jeo Baby, and Jibin Gopinath.

With this global recognition, Moham further cements Malayalam cinema’s growing footprint on the international stage.