Suriya, Dhanush, Nayanthara and Arya in stills from ‘Soorarai Pottru, ‘Vada Chennai,’ ‘Aramm,’ and ‘Sarpatta Parambarai’
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Tamil Nadu government, on Thursday (January 29, 2026), announced the winners of the State government’s Film Awards for the years 2016 to 2022. The awards honour the best actors, filmmakers, and technicians under 32 different categories.
Actors Vijay Sethupathi (for Puriyatha Puthir) and Keerthy Suresh (Paambhu Sattai); Karthi (Theeran Adhigaram Ondru) and Nayanthara (Aram); Dhanush (Vada Chennai) and Jyothika (Chekka Chivantha Vaanam); R. Parthiban (Oththa Seruppu Size 7) and Manju Warrier (Asuran); Suriya and Aparna Balamurali (both for Soorarai Pottru); Arya (Sarpatta Parambarai) and Lijomol Jose (Jai Bhim); and Vikram Prabhu (Taanakkaran) and Sai Pallavi (Gargi) have been named awardees of the Tamil Nadu government’s best actors awards for the years 2016-2022.
Tamil films Maanagaram, Aram, Pariyerum Perumal, Asuran, Koozhangal, Jai Bhim and Gargi have bagged the first prizes under the ‘Best Film’ category from 2016 to 2022 respectively.
Film directors Lokesh Kanagaraj (Maanagaram), Pushkar-Gayathri (Vikram Vedha), Mari Selvaraj (Pariyerum Perumal), R. Parthiban (Oththa Seruppu Size 7), Sudha Kongara (Soorarai Pottru), T.J. Gnanavel (Jai Bhim), Gautham Ramachandran (Gargi) are set to receive the ‘Best Director’ awards for the seven year period from 2016 to 2022 respectively.
As for the small screen, Azhagi, Romapuri Pandian, Ramanujar, Nandhini, Poove Poochudava, Sembaruthi, Raasathi, Sundari and Ethir Neechal will bag the first prize in the TV serial awards from 2014 to 2022.
Actors Radikaa Sarathkumar (Vani Rani), Vani Bhojan (Deivamagal), Neelima Rani (Thamarai), Sangavi (Thai Veedu), Revathi (Azhagu), Reshma (Poove Poochudava), Shabana Shajahan (Sembaruthi), Gabriella Sellus (Sundari) and Chaitra (Kayal) will receive the best female actor award for the years 2014-2022 respectively.
P. Ram Kumar (Sheep Vanished in the Herd), S. Kannan (Neeyum Bommai Naanum Bommai), A.K. Kranthi (Adharma), S. Varun Subbiah (Karai), S. Karunakaran (Wine Shop), R. Giridharan (Madras) will receive the Tamil Nadu Government M.G.R. Film and Television Institute award for their documentaries between 2015-16 and 2021-22 (except 2018-19).
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will present the awards during an event at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai on February 13.
Published – January 30, 2026 12:18 am IST
