Malayalis shine at Tamil Nadu Film Awards; five actresses win Best Actress award

CHENNAI: Malayalis have made a remarkable mark at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. Of the awards announced for the period from 2016 to 2022, 13 were won by Malayalis. Five Malayali actresses were honoured with the Best Actress award during this period. Keerthy Suresh received the accolade for her performance in Paambu Sattai (2016), Nayanthara for Aramm (2017), Manju Warrier for Asuran (2019), Aparna Balamurali for Soorarai Pottru (2020), and Lijomol Jose for Jai Bhim (2021). The MK Stalin government resumed the awards after requests from various film organisations.

In other categories, Arya won the Best Actor award for his role in Sarpatta Parambarai (2021), while Urvashi was recognised as Best Comedian in 2017 for Magalir Mattum. In playback singing, Vaikom Vijayalakshmi received the Best Singer award in 2016 for Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran, and Varsha Ranjith was honoured in 2020 for Thaainilam. Rahman won the Best Villain award in 2017 for his performance in Oru Mugathirai. In technical categories, M.R. Rajakrishnan was recognised for sound design for Aramm (2017) and Kadaisi Vivasayi (2021), while Vishnu Govind, P. Shankar, and others were awarded for sound recording for Soorarai Pottru (2020).

Other notable winners included actors Vijay Sethupathi (Puriyatha Puthir), Karthi (Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru), Dhanush (Vada Chennai), Parthiban (Oththa Seruppu Size 7), Suriya (Soorarai Pottru), and Vikram Prabhu (Taanakkaran). Jyotika and Sai Pallavi (Gargi) also won the Best Actress award for their performances in Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018) and Gargi (2022), respectively. Technicians honoured include Lokesh Kanagaraj, Pushkar Gayathri, Mari Selvaraj, Parthiban, Sudh Konkar, T.J. Gnanavel, and Gautham Ramachandran. The awards will be formally presented on the 13th of next month.