Filmfare Awards (South) highlights

The 59th Annual South Filmfare Awards (South), held at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai was a glittering affair.

In Tamil category "Aadukalam" won five awards including best actor for 'Kolaveri di' singer and actor Dhanush. . In Telugu, blockbuster "Dookudu" stole the thunder with six awards including best actor for Mahesh Babu. Child actress Annie walked away as the Best Supporting Actor (Female) in Telugu for her role in the Nagarjuna-starrer Rajanna. While in Kannada, "Sanju Weds Geetha" and Malayalam, "Pranayam" won four awards each.

The Filmfare Best Debut awards, both male and female, went to actors Aadi and Shruti Haasan for their roles in Telugu films. Aadi won the award for "Prema Kavali", Shruti won the award for her work in both "Anaganaga O Dheerudu" in Telugu and "7Aum Arivu" in Tamil. Receiving the award from her legendary father Kamal Haasan , Shruthi said "I practiced my speech in front of the mirror many times over, but now when the moment has come, I am speechless. Thank you appa for giving me this award..."

Mahesh Babu was jubilant when Deepika Padukone called out his name for Best actor award. Mahesh, who seemed to be glad to take his third filmfare, quipped, "The reason why the Best Actor award is announced in the end is because they don't want people to leave... that's what Dhanush just told me..." Calling Filmfare "the most special of awards", Mahesh said, "It's always prestigious to win a Filmfare, but this one is all the more special because it's coming to me after a six-year wait."

Nayanthara, on winning best actor female was jubilant. She said, "I've been receiving praise for playing Sita in the film, and I'm glad this role has fetched me my first ever Filmfare as well. I dedicate this award to Balakrishna sir, who convinced me that I could pull off this role. I also dedicate it to director Bapu sir, a veteran from whom I learnt a lot..."

Shreya Ghoshal achieved the unusual when she won three Filmfare Awards in the Best Playback Singer (female) category in Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. She admitted that it is a first for her, and will always remain as something she will cherish all her life. Shreya was not in person to collect the awards.

The complete list of the award winners of the 59th Idea Filmfare Awards (South)

Tamil

Best Film : Aadukalam

Best Director : Vetrimaran (Aadukalam)

Best Actor Male : Dhanush (Aadukalam)

Best Actor Female : Anjali (Engayum Eppodum)

Best Supporting Actor Male : Ajmal (Ko)

Best Supporting Actor Female : Ananya (Engayum Eppodum)

Best Music Director : G V Prakash (Aadukalam)

Best Playback Singer Male : Aalap Raju (Ennamo Edho, Ko)

Best Playback Singer Female : Chimayee (Sara Sara Vaagai Sooda Va)

Best Lyrics: Vairamuthu (Sara Sara Vaagai Sooda Va)

Malayalam

Best Film : Traffic

Best Director : Blessy (Pranayam)

Best Actor Male: Salim Kumar (Adaminte Makan Abu)

Best Actor Female : Kavya Madhavan (Gaddama)

Best Supporting Actor Male : Thilakan (Indian Rupee)

Best Supporting Actor Female : Lena (Traffic)

Best Music Director: M Jayachandran (Pranayam)

Best Playback Singer Male : Vijay Yesudas - Eepuzhayum Sandhyakalum-(Indian Rupee)

Best Playback Singer Female : Shreya Ghoshal - Paattil Ee Pattil (Pranayam)

Best Lyrics: Onv Kurup - Paattil Ee Pattil (Pranayam)

Kannada

Best Film: Olave Mandara

Best Director: Jayatheertha (Olave Mandara)

Best Actor Male: Puneeth Rajkumar (Hudugaru)

Best Actor Female: Ramya (Sanju Weds Geetha)

Best Supporting Actor Male: Ravishankar (Kempe Gowda)

Best Supporting Actor Female : Shruthi Haasan(Puttakkana Highway)

Best Music Director: Jassie Gift (Sanju Weds Geetha)

Best Playback Singer Male: Chethan - Yaarigelona Namma Problem- (Lifu Ishtena)

Best Playback Singer Female: Shreya Ghoshal - Gaganave - (Sanju Weds Geetha)

Best Lyrics: Kaviraj - Sanju Mathu Geetha - (Sanju Weds Geetha)

Telugu

Best Film: Dookudu

Best Director: Sreenu Vaitla (Dookudu)

Best Actor Male: Mahesh Babu (Dookudu)

Best Actor Female: Nayantara (Sri Rama Rajyam)

Best Supporting Actor Male: M S Narayana (Dookudu)

Best Supporting Actor Female: Annie (Rajanna)

Best Music Director: S S Thaman (Dookudu)

Best Playback Singer Male: Rahul Nambiyar - Guruvaram March Okati - (Dookudu)

Best Playback Singer Female: Shreya Ghoshal - Jagadhannadha - (Sri Rama Rajyam)

Best Lyrics: Jonnavithula - Jagadhannadha - (Sri Rama Rajyam)

Special Honours 

Lifetime Achievement Awards: S P Muthuraman (Director) , Seema Sasi (Actor)

Critics Award: Vikram (Deiiva Thirumagal)

Best Debut: Aadhi ( Prema Kavaali) , Shruthi Haasan (7aum Arivu, Anaga Anaga O Dheerudu)

Best Choreograpghy: Prem Rakshit - Naath Naath Badrinath - (Badrinath)

Best Cinematograpghy: Velraj (Aadukalam)