List of Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners (2016-2022): On Thursday, the Tamil Nadu government unveiled the much-awaited state film awards for the years 2016 to 2022, celebrating excellence in film and television. Top stars like Vikram, Dhanush, Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Suriya, Arya, Karthi, Sai Pallavi, Parthiban, Keerthi Suresh and Jyothika were among the big winners, taking home the honors of Best Actor (male) and Best Actor (female) for their respective films and years.
In the directing category, Lokesh Kanagaraj received the Best Director award for his debut feature film Maanagaram, while the 2017 film Vikram Vedha, starring Vijay Sethupathi and R Madhavan, won the second Best Film award. Another Sethupathi hit, 96, received the third award for best film. Dhanush also shone, with Asuran bagging the first prize for best film and his socially conscious actor Karnan winning the third prize the following year. Talking more about social impact cinema, Suriya’s Jai Bhim won the first award for best film of 2021, while Sai Pallavi’s haunting performance in Gargi helped the film win the best film award of 2022. Director Gautham Ramachandran received the best director award for his work in Gargi.
The awards also honored achievements in television from the years 2014 to 2022. Popular serials like Azhagi, Romapuri Pandian, Ramanujar, Nandhini, Sembaruthi, Ethir Neechal, Raasathi and Poove Poochudava were recognized with the First Prize in their respective years. Meanwhile, celebrated actresses like Radikaa Sarathkumar, Vani Bhojan, Neelima Rani, Sangavi, Revathi, Reshma, Shabana Shajahan, Gabriella Sullus and Chaitra received Best Actor (Female) awards for their outstanding performances.
Here is the full list of winners:
2016 winners:
Best Film (First Prize): Maanagaram
Best Film (Second Prize): Puriyatha Puthir
Best Film (Third Prize): Maaveeran Kittu
Best Film (Special Award): Manusangada
Best Film on Women Empowerment (Special Award): Aruvi
Best Actor: Vijay Sethupathi (Puriyatha Puthir)
Best Actress: Keerthy Suresh (Paambu Sattai)
Best Actor (Special Award): S Guru Somasundaram (Joker)
Best Actress (Special Award): Aditi Balan (Aruvi)
Best Villain: Rahman (Oru Mugathirai)
Best Comedy Actor: Robo Shankar (posthumous) (Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaran)
Best Comedy Actress: Madhumitha (Kaashmora)
Best Supporting Actor: R Parthiban (Maaveeran Kittu)
Best Supporting Actress: Manisha Yadav (Oru Kuppai Kathai)
Best Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj (Maanagaram)
Best Music Director: Sam CS (Puriyatha Puthir)
Best Lyricist: Madhan Karky (‘Naan Un’ from 24)
Best Playback Singer (Male): Velmurugan (Oru Kuppai Kathai)
Best Playback Singer (Female): Vaikom Vijayalakshmi (Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaran)
Best Director of Photography: Balasubramaniem (Kathakali)
Best Editor: Kasi Viswanathan (Maaveeran Kittu)
Best Art Director: John Britto (Ilami)
Best stunt coordinator: Anbariv (Kaashmora/24)
2017 winners:
Best Film (First Prize): Aramm
Best Film (Second Prize): Vikram Vedha
Best Film (Third Prize): Taramani
Best Film (Special Award): To Let
Best Film on Women Empowerment (Special Award): Dharmadurai
Best Actor: Karthi (Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)
Best Actress: Nayanthara (Aramm)
Best Actor (Special Award): Santhosh Sreeram (To Let)
Best Actress (Special Award): Andrea Jeremiah (Taramani)
Best Villain: Prasanna (Thiruttu Payale 2)
Best Comedy Actor: Bala Saravanan (In Aaloda Seruppa Kaanom)
Best Comedy Actress: Urvashi (Magalir Mattum)
Best Supporting Actor: Bose Venkat (Kavan/Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)
Best Supporting Actress: Sunu Lakshmi (Aramm)
Best Director: Pushkar Gayathri (Vikram Vedha)
Best Music Director: Hip Hop Thamizhaa (Kavan)
Best Lyricist: Vivek (‘Theeran Da’ by Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)
Best Playback Singer (Male): Sathyaprakash (Thiruttu Payale 2)
Best Playback Singer (Female): Shakthisree Gopalan (Vikram Vedha)
Best Director of Photography: P Chelladurai (Thiruttu Payale 2)
Best Editor: A Raja Mohammad (Thiruttu Payale 2/Veeraiyan)
Best Art Director: AK Muthu (Andava Kaanom)
Best Stunt Coordinator: Dhilip Subbarayan (Vikram Vedha/Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)
2018 winners:
Best Film (First Prize): Pariyerum Perumal
Best Film (Second Prize): Kadaikutty Singam
Best Film (Third Prize): 96
Best Film (Special Award): Seethakaathi
Best Film on Women Empowerment (Special Award): Kanaa
Best Actor: Dhanush (Vada Chennai)
Best Actress: Jyothika (Chekka Chivantha Vaanam)
Best Actor (Special Award): Vishnu Vishal (Ratsasan)
Best Actress (Special Award): Aishwarya Rajesh (Kanaa/Vada Chennai)
Best Villain: Samuthirakani (Vada Chennai)
Best Comedy Actor: Yogi Babu (Mohini)
Best Comedy Actress: Devadarshini (96)
Best Supporting Actor: Ameer (Vada Chennai)
Best Supporting Actress: Viji Chandrasekhar (Kadaikutty Singam)
Best Director: Mari Selvaraj (Pariyerum Perumal)
Best Music Director: Santhosh Narayanan (Vada Chennai)
Best Lyricist: Thiyagarajan Kumararaja (Seethakaathi)
Best Playback Singer (Male): Sid Sriram (Various Films)
Best Playback Singer (Female): Aaradhana Sivakarthikeyan (Kanaa)
Best Director of Photography: R Velraj (Kadaikutty Singam/Vada Chennai)
Best Editor: San Lokesh (Ratsasan)
Best Art Director: Vinoth Rajkumar (Seethakaathi)
Best Stunt Coordinator: Supreme Sundar (Goli Soda 2)
2019 winners:
Best Film (First Prize): Asuran
Best Film (Second Prize): Oththa Seruppu Size 7
Best Film (Third Prize): Comali
Best Film (Special Award): KD Engira Karuppudurai
Best Film on Women Empowerment (Special Award): Pon Magal Vandhal
Best Actor: R Parthiban (Oththa Seruppu size 7)
Best Actress: Manju Warrier (Asuran)
Best Actor (Special Award): Karthi (Kaithi)
Best Actress (Special Award): Indhuja (Magamuni)
Best Villain: Arjun Das (Kaithi)
Best Comedy Actor: Karunakaran (Monster)
Best Comedy Actress: Kovai Sarala (Kanchana-3)
Best Supporting Actor: Prakash Raj (Asuran)
Best Supporting Actress: Sriranjani (Householder)
Best Director: R Parthiban (Oththa Seruppu Size 7)
Best Music Director: Thaman (Magamuni)
Best Lyricist: Kabilan (NGK)
Best Playback Singer (Male): Haricharan (Various Films)
Best Playback Singer (Female): Saindhavi (Asuran)
Best Director of Photography: Theni Easwar (Peranbu)
Best Editor: R Sudharsan (Oththa Seruppu size 7)
Best Art Director: CS Balachandran (Dharma Prabhu)
Best Stunt Coordinator: Anbariv (Kaithi)
2020 winners:
Best Film (First Prize): Koozhangal
Best Film (Second Prize): Soorarai Pottru
Best Film (Third Prize): Sandakari
Best Film (Special Award): Thaen
Best Film on Women Empowerment (Special Award): Nadukkaveri’s Kamali
Best Actor: Suriya (Soorarai Pottru)
Best Actress: Aparna Balamurali (Soorarai Pottru)
Best Actor (Special Award): Tharun Kumar (Thaen)
Best Actress (Special Award): Abernathy (Thaen)
Best Villain: Nanda (Vaanam Kottattum)
Best Comedy Actor: Rakshan (Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithal)
Best Comedy Actress: Nilo
Best Supporting Actor: Karunaas (Soorarai Pottru)
Best Supporting Actress: Vadivukkarasai (Jananayagam Virpanaikku Alla)
Best Director: Sudha Kongara (Soorarai Pottru)
Best Music Director: GV Prakash Kumar (Soorarai Pottru)
Best Lyricist: Thamarai (Thaainilam)
Best Playback Singer (Male): Amrish (Sandakari)
Best Playback Singer (Female): Varsha Ranjith (Thaainilam)
Best Director of Photography: NK Ekambaram (Ka Pae Ranasingam)
Best Editor: Lawrence Kishore (Thaen)
Best Art Director: Iyyappan (Sandakari)
Best Stunt Coordinator: Super Subbarayan (Chasing)
2021 winners:
Best Film (First Prize): Jai Bhim
Best Film (Second Prize): Kadaisi Vivasayi
Best Film (Third Prize): Karnan
Best Film (Special Award): Rs 2000
Best Film on Women Empowerment (Special Award): Netrikann
Best Actor: Arya (Sarpatta Parambarai)
Best Actress: Lijomol José (Jai Bhim)
Best Actor (Special Award): Pasupathy (Sarpatta Parambarai)
Best Actress (Special Award): Amrutha Srinivasan (Irudhi Pakkam)
Best Villain: Thamizh (Jai Bhim)
Best Comedy Actor: Yogi Babu (Doctor)
Best Comedy Actress: Madhumitha (Varisi)
Best Supporting Actor: K Manikandan (Jai Bhim)
Best Supporting Actress: Dr. Raichal Rebecca (Kadaisi Vivasayi)
Best Director: Tha Se Gnanavel (Jai Bhim)
Best Musical Director: Sean Roldán (Jai Bhim)
Best Lyricist: Thamarai (Maara)
Best Playback Singer (Male): Arivu (Jai Bhim)
Best Playback Singer (Female): Bhavatharini (Maamanithan)
Best Director of Photography: Richard M Nathan (Maanaadu)
Best Editor: Praveen (Maanaadu)
Best Art Director: T Ramalingam (Karnan)
Best Stunt Coordinator: Mahesh Mathew (Kodiyil Oruvan)
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Winners for 2022
Best Film (First Prize): Gargi
Best Film (Second Prize): Taanakkaran
Best Film (Third Prize): Witness
Best Film (Special Award): Iravin Nizhal
Best Film on Women Empowerment (Special Award): Aval Appadithan 2
Best Actor: Vikram Prabhu (Taanakkaran)
Best Actress: Sai Pallavi (Gargi)
Best Actor (Special Award): Appukutty (Vazhga Vivasaayi)
Best Actress (Special Award): Dushara Vijayan (Natchathram Nagargiradhu)
Best Villain: Prakash Raj (Viruman)
Best Comedy Actor: Robo Shankar (posthumous) (Iravin Nizhal)
Best Comedy Actress: Indraja Shankar (Viruman)
Best Supporting Actor: Bose Venkat (Taanakkaran)
Best Supporting Actress: Vasundhara (Vazhga Vivasaayi)
Best Director: Gautham Ramachandran (Gargi)
Best Music Director: AR Rahman (Ponniyin Selvan: I)
Best Lyricist: Ilango Krishnan (Ponniyin Selvan: I)
Best Playback Singer (Male): Haricharan (Iravin Nizhal)
Best Playback Singer (Female): Khatija Rahman (Iravin Nizhal)
Best Director of Photography: R Arthur Wilson (Iravin Nizhal)
Best Editor: Suresh Urs (Ulagammai)
Best Art Director: Thota Tharani (Ponniyin Selvan: I)
Best Stunt Coordinator: Anl Arasu (Viruman)
The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on February 13 at 4:30 pm at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai where the Deputy Chief Minister will personally present the honors to the winners.