70th Filmfare Awards South With Kerala Tourism: Nominations announced for Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films

Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life), Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi, Amaran lead the nominations in Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil industries respectively. For Telugu, Hanu-Man, Lucky Baskhar and Pushpa 2: The Rule are tied with 7 nominations each.
Power-packed nominations feature stalwarts Mammootty, Fahadh Faasil, Allu Arjun, Nani, Jr. NTR, Dhanush, Vikram, Shivarajkumar, Sudeep, Prithviraj, Vijay Sethupathi, Sai Pallavi, Rashmika Mandanna, Keerthy Suresh, Nazriya, Rukmini Vasanth, and Parvathy Thiruvothu across 4 industries

Filmfare announced the nominations for 70th Filmfare Awards South with Kerala Tourism, honouring outstanding talent and cinematic excellence across Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu cinema for films released in 2024. For the first time, the awards will be held in Kochi on 21st February 2026 at Adlux International Convention Centre.
For Malayalam, Aadujeevitham leads the nominations in 8 categories. In the Best Film category, Aattam, Aavesham, Bramayugam, Manjummel Boys, Aadujeevitham, Premalu, Ullozhukku, Kishkindha Kaandam, and Prabhayay Ninachathellam (All We Imagine As Light) are nominated. In Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male), nominees include Mammootty, Fahadh Faasil, Prithviraj, Tovino Thomas, Asif Ali, and Basil Joseph, highlighting a power-packed year for male performances. The Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) category features Mamitha Baiju, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Urvashi, Nazriya Nazim, Divya Prabha, Kani Kusruti, and Zarin Shihab, showcasing a wide range of compelling female-led performances.
For Kannada, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi leads the nominations, followed closely by Bheema and Blink, emerging as strong contenders across key categories. In the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) category, stalwarts including Duniya Vijay, Shivarajkumar, Sudeep earned nominations. The Best Film category reflected the industry’s diversity with titles such as Bagheera, Bheema, Blink, Hadinelentu, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi and Shakhahaari in contention. Meanwhile, the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) nominations featured Akshatha Pandavapura, Ankita Amar, Bindu Shivaram, Chaithra Achar, Roshini Prakash and Rukmini Vasanth, highlighting compelling performances by leading women in Kannada cinema.
For Tamil, Amaran emerged as the frontrunner with 10 nominations, followed by Lubber Pandhu and Meiyazhagan. The Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) category features nominations for Arvind Swami, Attakathi Dinesh, Vikram, Dhanush, Sivakarthikeyan, Soori, and Vijay Sethupathi for their performances. The Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) category features nominations for Sai Pallavi, Anna Ben, Keerthy Suresh, Simran, Sri Gouri Priya, and Urvashi for their performances.
For Telugu, Pushpa 2: The Rule, Lucky Baskhar, and Hanu-Man emerged as the most nominated titles this year, with 7 nominations each, making a strong impact across major categories. In the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) category, Allu Arjun, Dulquer Salmaan, JR NTR, Nani, Siddu Jonnalagadda, and Teja Sajja earned nominations for their standout performances. The Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) category saw strong contenders including Rashmika Mandanna, Nivetha Thomas, Anupama Parameswaran, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Priyanka Mohan, and Ashika Ranganath, showcasing standout performances by leading women in Telugu cinema. The Best Film category featured a diverse line-up with Pushpa 2: The Rule, Lucky Baskhar, Hanu-Man, Kalki 2898 AD, 35 Chinna Katha Kaadu, and Committee Kurrollu. Adding to the excitement, Amitabh Bachchan also received a nomination in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male) category for Kalki 2898 AD, marking a significant crossover moment for Telugu cinema.
P.A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister for Public Works Department & Tourism, Government of Kerala, said, “Kerala is honoured to host the landmark 70th Filmfare Awards South, a celebration that recognises excellence across South Indian cinema. Our state has long been a favourite canvas for filmmakers, offering breathtaking landscapes, a rich cultural heritage, and a deep-rooted connection to storytelling. Hosting Filmfare reflects Kerala’s enduring relationship with cinema and reinforces our vision of promoting the state as a vibrant hub for film tourism and creative exchange.”
Rohit Gopakumar, Director WWM & Times Strategic Solutions Ltd., CEO Digital - Times Television Network, said, "It brings me immense pleasure to organize our marquee Filmfare Awards South for the first time in the state of Kerala. Kerala has been a massive contributor towards the identity of South India becoming a powerhouse for content, creativity and talent from South India. It is but natural to be elated in having this event at the nerve centre of Malayalam film industry, Kochi. South Indian cinema has led a powerful reinvention of Indian storytelling across the globe. The audiences have appreciated the emotional depth, diversity, and stories the four dynamic industries have brought to life. Each industry has its own legacy, yet together they represent a powerful collective voice that continues to shape Indian cinema today. This year, Kochi becomes more than a venue, it becomes a celebration of unity, legacy and the future of cinema. We thank our partners, Kerala Tourism and Kamar Film Factory for making this possible."
Kamar D, Founder of Kamar Film Factory said, “At Kamar Film Factory, cinema has always been at the heart of our journey, and partnering with Filmfare for the 70th Filmfare Awards South is a natural alignment of shared values. Filmfare’s legacy of honouring cinematic excellence mirrors our commitment to supporting meaningful storytelling and creative ambition. We are proud to be associated with a platform that celebrates the artists, technicians, and stories that define South Indian cinema, and we look forward to being part of this historic edition.”
Jitesh Pillaai, Editor-in-Chief, Filmfare, added, “As we mark our landmark edition in Kochi, we look forward to the grandest celebration of South Indian cinema.  Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema the four powerful pillars of South Indian cinema continue to inspire audiences across the world with their originality and emotional depth. I extend my warm congratulations to all the nominees whose exceptional work has resonated so deeply with audiences.”
Partners
Destination Partner: Kerala Tourism
Special Partner: Kamar Film Factory
Co-powered by: TTK Prestige
Co-powered by: Sensodent DSP
Check out the full list of nominations below: 70th Filmfare Awards South with Kerala Tourism
 
Nominations for Movies released in 2024
 
MALAYALAM:
 
BEST FILM
AADUJEEVITHAM
AATTAM
AAVESHAM
BRAMAYUGAM
KISHKINDHA KAANDAM
MANJUMMEL BOYS
PRABHAYAY NINACHATHELLAM (ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT)
PREMALU
ULLOZHUKKU

BEST DIRECTOR
ANAND EKARSHI (AATTAM)
BLESSY (AADUJEEVITHAM)
CHIDAMBARAM (MANJUMMEL BOYS)
CHRISTO TOMY (ULLOZHUKKU)
DINJITH AYYATHAN (KISHKINDHA KAANDAM)
JITHIN LAAL (ARM)
JITHU MADHAVAN (AAVESHAM)
PAYAL KAPADIA (PRABHAYAY NINACHATHELLAM)
RAHUL SADASIVAN (BRAMAYUGAM)

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (MALE)
ASIF ALI (KISHKINDHA KAANDAM)
BASIL JOSEPH (SOOKSHMADARSHINI)
FAHADH FAASIL (AAVESHAM)
MAMMOOTTY (BRAMAYUGAM)
PRITHVIRAJ (AADUJEEVITHAM)
TOVINO THOMAS (ARM)

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (FEMALE)
DIVYA PRABHA (PRABHAYAY NINACHATHELLAM)
KANI KUSRUTI (PRABHAYAY NINACHATHELLAM)
MAMITA BAIJU (PREMALU)
NAZRIYA (SOOKSHMADARSHINI)
PARVATHY THIRUVOTHU (ULLOZHUKKU)
URVASHI (ULLOZHUKKU)
ZARIN SHIHAB (AATTAM)

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MALE)
ARJUN ASHOKAN (BRAMAYUGAM)
JAGADEESH (VAAZHA)
KR GOKUL (AADUJEEVITHAM)
KUNCHACKO BOBAN (BOUGAINVILLEA)
SIDHARTH BHARATAN (BRAMAYUGAM)
VIJAYARAGHAVAN (KISHKINDHA KAANDAM)

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (FEMALE)
ABHINAYA (PANI)
APARNA BALAMURALI (KISHKINDHA KAANDAM)
LIJOMOL JOSE (HER)
POOJA MOHANRAJ (AAVESHAM)
SURABHI (ARM)
VANI VISWANATH (RIFLE CLUB)

BEST MUSIC ALBUM
AMRITH RAMNATH (VARSHANGALKKU SHESHAM)
AR RAHMAN (AADUJEEVITHAM)
CHRISTO XAVIER (SOOKSHMADARSHNI)
DHIBU NINAN THOMAS (ARM)
SANKAR SHARMA (JAI GANESH)
SUSHIN SYAM (AAVESHAM)
SUSHIN SYAM (BOUGAINVILLEA)

BEST LYRICS
MANU MANJITH (ANGU VAANA KONILU- ARM)
PS RAFEEQUE (MADHABHARA- MALAIKOTTAI VAALIBAN)
RAFEEQ AHAMED (PERIYONE- AADUJEEVITHAM)
SANTHOSH VARMA (ORU PAADU PAADUVAN- JAI GANESH)
VAISHAKH SUGUNAN (JEEVITHAGADHAKALE- VARSHANGALKKU SHESHAM)
VINAYAK SASIKUMAR (GANDHARVA GANAM- RIFLE CLUB)
VINEETH SREENIVASAN (MADHU PAKAROO- VARSHANGALKKU SHESHAM)

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (MALE)
AMRIT RAMNATH (NYABAGAM- VARSHANGALKKU SHESHAM)
HARISHANKAR (KILIYE- ARM)
JITHIN RAJ (PERIYONE- AADUJEEVITHAM)
MADHU BALAKRISHNAN (ORU PAADU PAADUVAN- JAI GANESH)
VIJAY YESUDAS (OMANE- AADUJEEVITHAM)
VINEETH SREENIVASAN (MADHU PAKAROO- VARSHANGALKKU SHESHAM)

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (FEMALE)
MADHUVANTHI NARAYANAN (MARAVIKALE- BOUGAINVILLEA)
MARRY ANNA (STHUTHI- BOUGAINVILEA)
MRIDULA WARRIER (MANDHARA MALARIN- ANAND SRIBALA)
NITHYA MAMEN (EEVAZHIKALIL- KUMMAATTIKKALI)
PREETHI PILLAI (MADHABHARA- MALAIKOTTAI VAALIBAN)
SHWETA MOHAN (GANDHARVA- RIFLE CLUB)
SITHARA KRISHNAKUMAR (PANDE NENCHIL- ONCE UP ON A TIME)
VAIKOM VIJAYALAKSHMI (ANGU VAANA KONILU- ARM)
 
KANNADA:
 
BEST FILM
BAGHEERA
BHEEMA
BLINK
HADINELENTU
KRISHNAM PRANAYA SAKHI
SHAKHAHAARI

BEST DIRECTOR
DUNIYA VIJAY (BHEEMA)
PRITHVI KONANUR (HADINELENTU)
RAJGURU B (KERE BETE)
SANDEEP SUNKAD (SHAKHAHAARI)
SRINIDHI BENGALURU (BLINK)
UTSAV GONWAR (PHOTO)

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (MALE)
DUNIYA VIJAY (BHEEMA)
GANESH (KRISHNAM PRANAYA SAKHI)
RANGAYANA RAGHU (SHAKHAHAARI)
SHIVRAJKUMAR (BHAIRATHI RANAGAL)
SRI MURALI (BAGHEERA)
SUDEEP (MAX)

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (FEMALE)
AKSHATHA PANDAVAPURA (KOLI ESRU)
ANKITA AMAR (IBBANI THABBIDA ILEYALI)
BINDU SHIVARAM (KERE BETE)
CHAITHRA ACHAR (BLINK)
ROSHINI PRAKASH (MURFI)
RUKMINI VASANTH (BAGHEERA)

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MALE)
GOPAL KRISHNA DESHPANDE (BLINK)
GOPAL KRISHNA DESHPANDE (SHAKHAHAARI)
JAHANGIR (PHOTO)
NAGENDRA SHAH (MARYADE PRASHNE)
PRABHU MUNDKUR (MARYADE PRASHNE)
PRAKASH RAJ (BAGHEERA)
RAJ B SHETTY (ROOPANTHARA)

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (FEMALE)
APEKSHA CHORANAHALLI (KOLI ESRU)
HARINI SRIKANTH (KEREBETE)
LEKHA NAIDU (ROOPANTHARA)
PRIYA SHATHAMARSHANA (BHEEMA)
REKHA KUDLIGI (HADINELENTU)
SANDHYA ARAKERE (PHOTO)

BEST MUSIC ALBUM
AJANEESH LOKNATH (MAX)
ANUP SEELIN (KAALAPATTHAR)
ARJUN JANYA (KRISHNAM PRANAYA SAKHI)
CHARAN RAJ (BHEEMA)
V HARIKRISHNA (KARATAKA DAMANAKA)
VEER SAMARTH (ONDU SARALA PREMA KATHE)

BEST LYRICS
GHOUSE PEER (BHUVANA HUDUKADIDHE- KEREBETE)
KAVIRAJ (NINNA HEGALU- KRISHNAM PRANAYA SAKHI)
NAGARJUN SHARMA (DONT WORRY BABY CHINNAMMA- BHEEMA)
PRAMOD MARAVANTHE (SAKHIYE- BLINK)
V. NAGENDRA PRASAD (DWAPARA- KRISHNAM PRANAYA SAKHI)

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (MALE)
JASKARAN SINGH (DWAPARA- KRISHNAM PRANAYA SAKHI)
KAPIL KAPILAN (OH ANAHITHA- IBBANI THABBIDA ILEYALI)
SIDDHARTHA BELMANNU (SAKHI- BLINK)
SONU NIGAM (HEY GAGANA- KRISHNAM PRANAYA SAKHI)
VIJAY PRAKASH (SANJE MELE- MATINEE)

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (FEMALE)
INDU NAGARAJ (CHINNAMMA- KRISHNAM PRANAYA SAKHI)
SHIVANI SWAMI (YELLA MATHANNA ONDE BAARI- ONDU SARALA PREMA KATHE)
SHRUTHI PRAHLAD (HITHALAKA KARIBYADA- KARATAKA DAMANAKA)
SRILAKSHMI BELMANNU (RADHE- IBBANI TABBIDA ILEYALI)
VAISH (I LOVE YOU- BHEEMA)
 
TAMIL:
 
BEST FILM
AMARAN
KOTTUKKAALI
LUBBER PANDHU
MAHARAJA
MEIYAZHAGAN
VAAZHAI

BEST DIRECTOR
C. PREM KUMAR (MEIYAZHAGAN)
MARI SELVARAJ (VAAZHAI)
NITHILAN SAMINATHAN (MAHARAJA)
PA. RANJITH (THANGALAAN)
PS VINOTHRAJ (KOTTUKKAALI)
RAJKUMAR PERIASAMY (AMARAN)

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (MALE)
ARVIND SWAMI (MEIYAZHAGAN)
ATTAKATHI DINESH (LUBBER PANDHU)
DHANUSH (CAPTAIN MILLER)
SIVAKARTHIKEYAN  (AMARAN)
SOORI (GARUDAN)
VIJAY SETHUPATHI (MAHARAJA)
VIKRAM (THANGALAAN)

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (FEMALE)
ANNA BEN (KOTTUKKAALI)
KEERTHY SURESH (RAGHU THATHA)
SAI PALLAVI (AMARAN)
SIMRAN (ANDHAGAN)
SRI GOURI PRIYA (LOVER)
URVASHI (J BABY)

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MALE)
ANURAG KASHYAP (MAHARAJA)
BOBBY DEOL (KANGUVA)
KAALI VENKAT (LUBBER PANDHU)
KARTHI (MEIYAZHAGAN)
SHANTHANU BHAGYARAJ (BLUE STAR)

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (FEMALE)
DUSHARA VIJAYAN (RAAYAN)
NIKHILA VIMAL (VAAZHAI)
PARVATHY THIRUVOTHU (THANGALAAN)
PRIYA ANAND (ANDHAGAN)
SWASIKA (LUBBER PANDHU)

BEST MUSIC ALBUM
AR RAHMAN (RAAYAN)
ANIRUDH RAVICHANDER (VETTAIYAN)
G V PRAKASH KUMAR (AMARAN)
SANTHOSH NARAYANAN (VAAZHAI)
SEAN ROLDAN (LUBBER PANDHU)

BEST LYRICS
KARTHIK NETHA (HEY MINNALE- AMARAN)
MOHAN RAJAN (AASA ORAVE- LUBBER PANDHU)
UMA DEVI (YAARO IVAN YAARO- MEIYAZHAGAN)
VIVEK (UYIREY- AMARAN)

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (MALE)
HARICHARAN (HEY MINNALE- AMARAN)
KAPIL KAPILAN (VENNILAVU SAARAL- AMARAN)
PRADEEP KUMAR (CHILLANJIRUKKIYE- LUBBER PANDHU)
SANJAY SUBRAHMANYA (MANASULA- VIDUTHALAI 2)
SID SRIRAM (THAAYE THAAYE- MAHARAJA)
VIJAYNARAIN (PORAEN NAA PORAEN- MEIYAZHAGAN)

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (FEMALE)
ANANYA BHAT (MANASULA- VIDUTHALAI 2)
DHEE (THENKIZHAKKU- VAAZHAI)