After years of anticipation, the Government of Tamil Nadu has finally unveiled the State Film Awards for 2016 to 2022, recognising one of the most socially conscious and artistically rich phases of Tamil cinema. From hard-hitting courtroom dramas to raw portrayals of marginalised voices, the awards celebrate films and performances that reshaped mainstream storytelling.
Big Winners and Standout Films
- Some films stood out for both cinematic excellence and social impact.
- Gargi (2022), led by Sai Pallavi, won Best Film (First Prize), with Sai Pallavi also taking Best Actress for her restrained and powerful performance.
- Similarly, Jai Bhim, starring Suriya, won Best Film (First Prize) for 2021, reaffirming Tamil cinema’s engagement with justice, caste realities and constitutional values.
Celebrated Performances by Leading Actors
- The awards recognised performances that left a lasting cultural imprint.
- Dhanush won Best Actor for Vada Chennai (2018), a gritty portrayal of urban crime and power structures.
- Vikram Prabhu received Best Actor (2022) for Taanakkaran, a film exploring custodial violence and systemic abuse.
- Other notable acting winners across the years included Vijay Sethupathi, Arya, Nayanthara, Jyothika, Keerthy Suresh and Manju Warrier, reflecting diversity in roles and themes.
Recognition for Directors and Music
- Direction awards highlighted strong new-age filmmakers.
- Lokesh Kanagaraj won Best Director for Maanagaram (2016), while Gautham Ramachandran was honoured for Gargi (2022).
- In music, legends and contemporary composers were recognised, including A R Rahman for Ponniyin Selvan: I and Santhosh Narayanan for Vada Chennai, underlining the role of music in elevating narrative depth.
Awards Ceremony Details
- The official awards ceremony will be held on 13 February 2026 at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai, where the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu will personally present the honors to the winners.
- Instituted by the Tamil Nadu government, the State Film Awards are among the oldest and most prestigious state-level cinema honours in India, recognising artistic merit, technical excellence and socially meaningful storytelling in Tamil cinema.
Full Winners List Year Wise
2016 Winners
- Best Film: Maanagaram
- Best Film (Special Prize): Manusangada
- Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Aruvi
- Best Actor: Vijay Sethupathi (Puriyatha Puthir)
- Best Actress: Keerthy Suresh (Paambu Sattai)
- Best Actor (Special Prize): S Guru Somasundaram (Joker)
- Best Actress (Special Prize): 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 Cinematographer: 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 (Special Prize): To Let
- Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Dharmadurai
- Best Actor: Karthi (Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)
- Best Actress: Nayanthara (Aramm)
- Best Actor (Special Prize): Santhosh Sreeram (To Let)
- Best Actress (Special Prize): Andrea Jeremiah (Taramani)
- Best Villain: Prasanna (Thiruttu Payale 2)
- Best Comedy Actor: Bala Saravanan (En 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’ from Theeran Adhigaram Ondru)
- Best Playback Singer (Male): Sathyaprakash (Thiruttu Payale 2)
- Best Playback Singer (Female): Shakthisree Gopalan (Vikram Vedha)
- Best Cinematographer: 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 (Special Prize): Seethakaathi
- Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Kanaa
- Best Actor: Dhanush (Vada Chennai)
- Best Actress: Jyothika (Chekka Chivantha Vaanam)
- Best Actor (Special Prize): Vishnu Vishal (Ratsasan)
- Best Actress (Special Prize): 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 (Multiple Films)
- Best Playback Singer (Female): Aaradhana Sivakarthikeyan (Kanaa)
- Best Cinematographer: 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 (Special Prize): KD Engira Karuppudurai
- Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Pon Magal Vandhal
- Best Actor: R Parthiban (Oththa Seruppu Size 7)
- Best Actress: Manju Warrier (Asuran)
- Best Actor (Special Prize): Karthi (Kaithi)
- Best Actress (Special Prize): 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 (House Owner)
- Best Director: R Parthiban (Oththa Seruppu Size 7)
- Best Music Director: Thaman (Magamuni)
- Best Lyricist: Kabilan (NGK)
- Best Playback Singer (Male): Haricharan (Multiple Films)
- Best Playback Singer (Female): Saindhavi (Asuran)
- Best Cinematographer: 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 (Special Prize): Thaen
- Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Kamali From Nadukkaveri
- Best Actor: Suriya (Soorarai Pottru)
- Best Actress: Aparna Balamurali (Soorarai Pottru)
- Best Actor (Special Prize): Tharun Kumar (Thaen)
- Best Actress (Special Prize): Abernathy (Thaen)
- Best Villain: Nanda (Vaanam Kottattum)
- Best Comedy Actor: Rakshan (Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithal)
- Best Comedy Actress: Nil
- 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 Cinematographer: 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 (Special Prize): Rs 2000
- Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Netrikann
- Best Actor: Arya (Sarpatta Parambarai)
- Best Actress: Lijomol Jose (Jai Bhim)
- Best Actor (Special Prize): Pasupathy (Sarpatta Parambarai)
- Best Actress (Special Prize): 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 Music Director: Sean Roldan (Jai Bhim)
- Best Lyricist: Thamarai (Maara)
- Best Playback Singer (Male): Arivu (Jai Bhim)
- Best Playback Singer (Female): Bhavatharini (Maamanithan)
- Best Cinematographer: Richard M Nathan (Maanaadu)
- Best Editor: Praveen (Maanaadu)
- Best Art Director: T Ramalingam (Karnan)
- Best Stunt Coordinator: Mahesh Mathew (Kodiyil Oruvan)
2022 Winners
- Best Film (First Prize): Gargi
- Best Film (Special Prize): Iravin Nizhal
- Best Film About Women Empowerment (Special Prize): Aval Appadithan 2
- Best Actor: Vikram Prabhu (Taanakkaran)
- Best Actress: Sai Pallavi (Gargi)
- Best Actor (Special Prize): Appukutty (Vazhga Vivasaayi)
- Best Actress (Special Prize): 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 Cinematographer: R Arthur Wilson (Iravin Nizhal)
- Best Editor: Suresh Urs (Ulagammai)
- Best Art Director: Thota Tharani (Ponniyin Selvan: I)
- Best Stunt Coordinator: Anl Arasu (Viruman)