Tamil Nadu State Film Awards are given for excellence in Tamil cinema in India. They were originally given annually by the Government of Tamil Nadu to recognize the best talents in the South Indian film industry. The awards were decided by a committee headed by a judge. The awards were first given in 1967 but discontinued after 1970. The awards were resumed in 1977 and continued till 1982. The awards were not given in the years 1971 to 1976. However, in the year 1977, the awards for Best Actress and Best Actor were announced for the years 1971 to 1976 by way of honorary certificates by the government led by the then chief minister M. G. Ramachandran. Since 1988, the awards were regularly given until discontinued after 2008.
After winning the election for the Producers Council of Tamil Cinema, the chairman Vishal revealed that he would approach the government to reinstate the awards. The awards were reinstated in July 2017 after the government announced the wins for 2009–2014. After a gap of seven years, the awards for the year 2015 were announced in March 2024. Then, in February 2026, awards were announced for the years 2016–2022.
Record Winners
The List consists of the most leading wins by the artists of the respective categories.
+ Most awardsImageRecipient AwardNo. of AwardsVikramanBest Director3Kamal HaasanBest Actor8RajinikanthBest Actor Special Prize (Jury)2Suriya JyothikaBest Actress5 BhanupriyaBest Actress Special Prize (Jury)2NassarBest Supporting Actor3Saranya PonvannanBest Supporting Actress2Prakash RajBest Villain5VadiveluBest Comedian6A. R. RahmanBest Music Director7
Awards Awards are given in the following categories. Follow the links for lists of the award winners, year by year.
Creative Awards Best Film: since 1967 Best Director: since 1967 Best Family Film:2000 & 2001; since 2006 - 2008 Best Film Portraying Women in a Good Light: since 1994 Best Actor: since 1967 Best Actress: since 1967 Best Supporting Actor: 1968 to 1970; since 2000 Best Supporting Actress: 1968 to 1970; since 2000 Best Villain: since 1995 Best Comedian: 1980 to 1982; since 1995 Best Child Artist: 1969 and 1970; 1977 and 1978; 1990; since 1994 Best Music Director: 1968 to 1970; 1977 to 1982; since 1988 Best Male Playback Singer: 1968 to 1970; 1977 to 1982; since 1988 Best Female Playback Singer: 1968 to 1970; 1977 to 1982; since 1988
Technical Awards Best Stunt Coordinator: 1970; 1982; since 1988 Best Art Director: since 1988 Best Cinematographer: 1968 to 1970; 1977 to 1982; since 1988 Best Choreographer: since 1988 Best Audiographer: since 1988 Best Lyricist: 1968 to 1970; 1977 to 1982; since 1988 Best Male Dubbing Artist: since 2000 Best Female Dubbing Artist: since 2000 Best Editor: 1980 to 1982; since 1988 Best Storywriter: 1968 to 1970; 1977 to 1982; since 1988 Best Dialogue Writer: 1968 to 1970; 1977 to 1982; since 1988 Best Make-up Artist: since 1993 Best Costume Designer: since 1993
Special awards Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize: since 1970 Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award: since 1988
Retired Awards Best Male Debut – Karthik for Alaigal Oivathillai: 1981 Best Female Debut – Radha for Alaigal Oivathillai: 1981
List of frequent winners
Legendary Dir. K. Balachander (14) remains to be the most individual wins by an artist in TN State Film Awards till date followed by his student Kamal Haasan with eleven Wins.
+ List of winners of Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Artist Wins K. Balachander Kamal HaasanSuriyaPrakash RajBharathirajaVikramanRajinikanthR. B. ChoudaryManoramaA R RahmanJyothika
Most awarded films
A.R. Murugadoss Directional Ghajini, Starring Suriya and Asin still hold the Record of Most Number of Wins by a Film.
+ List of films with most number of wins Film Year WinsGhajini2005 Alaigal Oivathillai1981 Kannathil Muthamittal2002 Chinna Thambi1991 Kumki2012 Kaaviya Thalaivan2014 36 Vayadhinile2015 Vada Chennai2018 Soorarai Pottru2020 Jai Bhim2021
See also Cinema of India
References