Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil

The Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil is given by the Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Tamil film lead actors. The Filmfare Awards South Awards were extended to "Best Actor" in 1972.

Superlatives

Superlative Actor Record Actor with most wins Kamal Haasan 11 wins Actor with most nominations 35 nominations Actor with most consecutive nominations Kamal Haasan (1985–1996) 12 nominations Oldest winner Kamal Haasan 68 Oldest nominee Rajinikanth 73 Youngest winner Kamal Haasan 21 Youngest nominee Dhanush and Kamal HaasanActor with most consecutive winsKamal Haasan4 wins (1975–1978)Actor with most nominations without a winVijay8 nominations Kamal Haasan with eleven wins, has most number of awards than any other actor. Vikram has six wins, followed by Karthik and Dhanush with four wins. Four actors have won the award thrice in chronological order. They are Sivaji Ganesan, Sarath Kumar, Ajith Kumar and Suriya. Actors Sivakumar and Vijay Sethupathi has two wins each. Vikram, Dhanush, Karthi, Suriya and R. Madhavan are the five actors to win both Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and Vikram is the first actor to win this honour. Sathyaraj, Suriya and R. Madhavan,Karthi have won both Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil. Kamal Haasan was the most victorious actor with four wins in the 70s. Karthik ruled the 80s with two wins. In the 90s, Kamal Haasan outperformed every other actors with four wins. Vikram was the most successful actor with three wins in the 2000s. Dhanush was the most successful actor in the 2010s with four wins. Seven actors have won the awards in consecutive years; in chronological order, they are Sivaji Ganesan (1972–1973), Kamal Haasan (1975–1978, 1991–1992 and 1995–1996), Sivakumar (1979–1980), Karthik (1988–1990), Sarathkumar (1997–1998), Dhanush (2011–2012) and Vijay Sethupathi (2017–2018). Suriya, R. Madhavan and Karthi are the three actors to have won Filmfare Awards South in three major actor categories : Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor Critics which was achieved by them as of 2016 & 2017 & 2024 respectively. R. Madhavan became the first actor and the only actor to have won Filmfare Awards South in four different acting categories: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor critics and Best Male Debut awards once each. There was only one tie in 2018 between Dhanush and Vijay Sethupathi. Karthi was the only actor to win the award for his debut performance in Tamil. Kamal Haasan has the most nominations with 35, followed by Rajinikanth with 18. Suriya and Karthi are the only siblings to be awarded in this category.

Multiple wins 11 wins: Kamal Haasan 6 wins: Vikram 4 wins: Karthik, Dhanush 3 wins: Sivaji Ganesan, Sarath Kumar, Ajith Kumar, Suriya 2 wins: Sivakumar, Vijay Sethupathi

Multiple nominations Multiple nominations : 35 nominations: Kamal Haasan 18 nominations: Rajinikanth 14 nominations: Suriya 12 nominations: Dhanush 11 nominations: Vikram 10 nominations: Sivaji Ganesan, Ajith Kumar 8 nominations: Vijay Sethupathi, Vijay 6 nominations: Sivakumar, K. Bhagyaraj, Vijayakanth, Karthik 5 nominations: Mohan, Karthi 4 nominations: M. G. Ramachandran, Sathyaraj, Prabhu, Madhavan, Jayam Ravi, Sarath Kumar, Arvind Swami 3 nominations: Arya, Silambarasan 2 nominations: Siddharth, Jiiva, Prakash Raj, Arjun Sarja, Vijayakumar, Sudhakar, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Narain, Sivakarthikeyan

Winners This is the complete list of the award winners and the films for which they won. The year indicates the year of release of the film. Year Actor Role Film Ref 1972Sivaji GanesanAnthony Gnana Oli 1973Sivaji GanesanRajinikanthKannan Gauravam 1974Gemini Ganesan David AshirvadhamNaan Avanillai 1975Kamal HaasanPrasannaApoorva Raagangal 1976Kamal HaasanRaviOru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu 1977Kamal HaasanGopalakrishnan 16 Vayadhinile 1978Kamal HaasanMuthu / DileepSigappu Rojakal 1979SivakumarSempattaiRosaappo Ravikkai Kaari 1980SivakumarGajaVandichakkaram 1981Kamal HaasanRaghuRaja Paarvai 1982MohanRavi KumarPayanangal Mudivathillai 1983K. Bhagyaraj ShanmugamaniMundhanai Mudichu 1984RajinikanthManikkamNallavanukku Nallavan 1985Sivaji GanesanMalaichamiMuthal Mariyathai 1986VijayakanthChinnamaniAmman Kovil Kizhakale 1987SathyarajBalu ThevarVedham Pudhithu 1988KarthikAshok Agni Natchathiram 1989KarthikKannan Varusham Padhinaaru 1990KarthikPonnurangamKizhakku Vasal 1991Kamal HaasanGunasekharan Guna 1992Kamal HaasanSakthivelu ThevarThevar Magan 1993KarthikPonnumaniPonnumani 1994R. SarathkumarShanmugamPasupathiNattamai 1995Kamal HaasanAdhi NarayananKuruthipunal 1996Kamal HaasanSenapathyChandraboseIndian 1997R. SarathkumarSakthivel GounderChinnarasuSuryavamsam 1998R. SarathkumarChinnayyaMuthaiyyaNatpukkaga 1999Ajith KumarDeva Shiva Vaalee 2000Kamal HaasanSaket Raman IyengarHey Ram 2001VikramKasiKasi 2002Ajith KumarShiva Vishnu Villain 2003VikramChithan Pithamagan 2004Suriya ChinnaKarthik Perazhagan 2005VikramRamanujam / Remo / Anniyan Anniyan 2006Ajith KumarShivashankar VishnuJeeva Varalaaru 2007KarthiParuthiveeranParuthiveeran2008SuriyaKrishnanSuriya KrishnanVaaranam Aayiram2009Prakash RajVengadamKanchivaram2010VikramVeeraiyaRaavanan2011DhanushK. P. KaruppuAadukalam2012DhanushRaam32013AtharvaaRaasaParadesi2014Dhanush RaghuvaranVelaiilla Pattadhari2015Vikram LingesanI2016R. MadhavanPrabhu Selvaraj Irudhi Suttru2017Vijay SethupathiVedhaVikram Vedha2018DhanushAnbuVada ChennaiVijay Sethupathi Ram'96 2020–2021Suriya Nedumaaran Rajangam Soorarai Pottru 2022Kamal HaasanAgent Arun Kumar/VikramVikram2023Vikram Aditha Karikalan Ponniyin Selvan: II 2024SivakarthikeyanMajor Mukund Varadharajan Amaran

Nominations 1970s 1972 Sivaji Ganesan – Gnana Oli 1973 Sivaji Ganesan – Gauravam 1974 Gemini Ganesan – Naan Avan Illai M. G. Ramachandran – Urimai Kural Sivaji Ganesan – Thanga Pathakkam 1975 Kamal Haasan – Apoorva Raagangal M. G. Ramachandran – Idhayakkani Sivaji Ganesan – Vaira Nenjam 1976 Kamal Haasan – Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu Jaishankar – Thunive Thunai M. G. Ramachandran – Needhikku Thalaivanangu Sivaji Ganesan – Chitra Pournami Sivakumar – Annakili 1977 Kamal Haasan – 16 Vayathinile Kamal Haasan – Avargal M. G. Ramachandran – Navarathinam Sivaji Ganesan – Dheepam Sivakumar – Aattukara Alamelu 1978 Kamal Haasan – Sigappu Rojakkal Kamal Haasan – Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu Rajinikanth – Mullum Malarum Sivaji Ganesan – Thyagam Sudhakar – Kizhakke Pogum Rail 1979 Sivakumar – Rosappu Ravikkaikari Kamal Haasan – Ninaithale Inikkum Pratap Pothen – Azhiyatha Kolangal Rajinikanth – Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai Vijayan – Uthiri Pookkal

1980s 1980 Sivakumar – Vandichakkaram Kamal Haasan – Varumayin Niram Sigappu Pratap Pothen – Nenjathai Killathe Rajinikanth – Johnny Sudhakar – Kallukkul Eeram 1981 Kamal Haasan – Raja PaarvaiFilmfare Magazine August 1982, 29th Annual Filmfare Awards - Regional films winners & nominees Sivaji Ganesan - Kalthoon Sivaji Ganesan - Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum 1982 Mohan – Payanangal Mudivathillai Kamal Haasan – Moondram Pirai Kamal Haasan – Vaazhve Mayam Rajinikanth – Moondru Mugam Sivakumar – Agni Sakshi 1983 Bhagyaraj – Mundhanai Mudichu Pandiyan – Mann Vasanai Sivaji Ganesan – Imaigal T. Rajendar – Thangaikkor Geetham Thiagarajan – Malaiyoor Mambattiyan 1984 Rajinikanth – Nallavanukku Nallavan Mohan – Nooravathu Naal Rajesh – Achamillai Achamillai Sivaji Ganesan – Vaazhkai Vijayakanth – Vaidehi Kathirunthal 1985 Sivaji Ganesan – Muthal Mariyathai Bhagyaraj – Chinna Veedu Kamal Haasan – Oru Kaidhiyin Diary Mohan – Idaya Kovil Sivakumar – Sindhu Bhairavi 1986 Vijayakanth – Amman Kovil Kizhakale Kamal Haasan – Punnagai Mannan Mohan – Mouna Ragam Prabhu – Aruvadai Naal Visu – Samsaram Adhu Minsaram 1987 Sathyaraj – Vedham Pudhithu Bhagyaraj – Enga Chinna Rasa Kamal Haasan – Nayakan Mohan – Rettai Vaal Kuruvi Rajinikanth – Velaikaran 1988 Karthik – Agni Natchathiram Kamal Haasan – Unnal Mudiyum Thambi Prabhu – Agni Natchathiram Sathyaraj – En Bommukutty Ammavukku Vijayakanth – Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran 1989 Karthik – Varusham Padhinaaru Bhagyaraj – Aararo Aariraro Kamal Haasan – Apoorva Sagodharargal Rahman – Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal Ramarajan – Karakattakkaran

1990s 1990 Karthik – Kizhakku Vaasal Kamal Haasan – Michael Madana Kama Rajan Rajinikanth – Panakkaran Sathyaraj – Nadigan Vijayakanth – Pulan Visaranai 1991 Kamal Haasan – Gunaa Mammootty – Azhagan Murali – Idhayam Prabhu – Chinna Thambi Rajinikanth – Thalapathi 1992 Kamal Haasan – Thevar Magan Arvind Swami – Roja Bhagyaraj – Raasukutti Rajinikanth – Annaamalai Vijayakanth – Chinna Gounder 1993 Karthik – Ponnumani Arjun Sarja – Gentleman Kamal Haasan – Kalaignan Rajinikanth – Uzhaippali Vijayakumar – Kizhakku Cheemayile 1994 R. Sarathkumar – Nattamai Kamal Haasan – Mahanadhi Prabhu Deva – Kaadhalan Prabhu – Duet Vijayakanth – Honest Raj 1995 Kamal Haasan – Kuruthipunal Ajith Kumar – Aasai Arvind Swami – Bombay Rajinikanth – Baashha Rajinikanth – Muthu 1996 Kamal Haasan – Indian Ajith Kumar – Kadhal Kottai Vijayakumar – Anthimanthaarai Kamal Haasan - Avvai Shanmugi 1997 R. Sarathkumar – Suryavamsam Prakash Raj – Iruvar R. Parthiban – Bharathi Kannamma Rajinikanth – Arunachalam Vijay – Kadhalukku Mariyadhai 1998 R. Sarathkumar – Natpukkaga Karthik – Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen Prashanth – Jeans 1999 Ajith Kumar – Vaalee Ajith Kumar – Amarkkalam Arjun Sarja – Mudhalvan Rajinikanth – Padayappa Vikram – Sethu

2000s 2000 Kamal Haasan – Hey Ram Ajith Kumar – Mugavaree Madhavan – Alaipayuthey Prashanth – Parthen Rasithen Sayaji Shinde – Bharathi 2001 Vikram – Kasi Ajith Kumar – Citizen Ajith Kumar – Poovellam Un Vasam Kamal Haasan – Aalavandhan Suriya – Nandhaa 2002 Ajith Kumar – Villain Kamal Haasan – Panchatanthiram Madhavan – Kannathil Muthamittal Suriya – Mounam Pesiyadhe 2003 Vikram – Pithamagan Dhanush – Kadhal Kondein Kamal Haasan – Anbe Sivam Suriya – Kaakha Kaakha 2004 Suriya – Perazhagan Kamal Haasan – Vasool Raja MBBS Silambarasan – Manmadhan Vijay – Ghilli 2005 Vikram – Anniyan Jiiva – Raam Sarath Kumar – Ayya Suriya – Ghajini 2006 Ajith Kumar – Varalaru Dhanush – Pudhupettai Kamal Haasan – Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu Narain – Chithiram Pesuthadi 2007 Karthi – Paruthiveeran Ajith Kumar – Billa Rajinikanth – Sivaji Sathyaraj – Onbathu Roopai Notu Vijay – Pokkiri 2008 Suriya – Vaaranam Aayiram Dhanush – Yaaradi Nee Mohini Jayam Ravi – Santosh Subramaniam Kamal Haasan – Dasavathaaram Narain – Anjathe 2009 Prakash Raj – Kanchivaram Arya – Naan Kadavul Jayam Ravi – Peraanmai Kamal Haasan – Unnaipol Oruvan Suriya – Ayan

2010s 2010 – Vikram – Raavanan Arya – Madrasapattinam Karthi – Aayirathil Oruvan Karthi – Paiyaa Rajinikanth – Enthiran Silambarasan – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Suriya – Singam 2011 – Dhanush – Aadukalam Ajith Kumar – Mankatha Jiiva – Ko Suriya – 7 Aum Arivu Vikram – Deiva Thirumagal 2012 – Dhanush – 3 Suriya – Maattrraan Vijay – Thuppakki Vijay Sethupathi – Pizza Vikram – Thandavam 2013 – Atharvaa – Paradesi Ajith Kumar – Arrambam Dhanush – Maryan Kamal Haasan – Vishwaroopam Kishore – Haridas Suriya – Singam 2 2014 – Dhanush – Velaiilla Pattadhari Ajith Kumar – Veeram Karthi – Madras Prithviraj Sukumaran – Kaaviya Thalaivan Vijay – Kaththi 2015 – Vikram – I Ajith Kumar – Yennai Arindhaal Dhanush – Anegan Jayam Ravi – Thani Oruvan Kamal Haasan – Papanasam 2016 – Madhavan – Irudhi Suttru Dhanush – Kodi Rajinikanth – Kabali Suriya – 24 Vijay – Theri Vikram – Iru Mugan 2017 – Vijay Sethupathi – Vikram Vedha Karthi – Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru / Thozha Madhavan – Vikram Vedha Rajkiran – Power Paandi Vijay – Mersal 2018 – Dhanush – Vada Chennai and Vijay Sethupathi – 96 (tie) Arvind Swami – Chekka Chivantha Vaanam