The Telugu & Kannada Winners at SIIMA 2025

The 13th edition of the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) opened on September 5 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City.

The event celebrates excellence in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema, with categories honouring both artists and technicians.

The first day focused on Telugu and Kannada films, with star-studded appearances from Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Duniya Vijay, and Sundeep Kishan.

Their red-carpet presence set the tone for an evening where some of the industry’s biggest names received top honours.

Pushpa 2: The Rule was the big winner of the night, taking home five awards.

This included two of the ceremony’s most coveted prizes.

Allu Arjun was awarded Best Actor (Male), while Rashmika Mandanna received Best Actor (Female).

Director Sukumar and composer Devi Sri Prasad added to the film’s triumph with wins in the Best Director and Best Music Composer categories.

Nag Ashwin’s futuristic spectacle Kalki 2898 AD also enjoyed success, taking home four awards, including Best Film.

Its strong showing cemented its place as one of the most influential films of the year.

Other major winners included Gowri, which also collected awards, ensuring that a diverse range of films were recognised during the night.

The Tamil and Malayalam winners will be announced on night two, continuing SIIMA’s role as one of the most prestigious celebrations of South Indian cinema.

The List of Telugu & Kannada Winners at SIIMA 2025

Telugu

Best Actor
Allu Arjun – Pushpa 2: The Rule

Best Actress
Rashmika Mandanna – Pushpa 2: The Rule

Best Director
Sukumar – Pushpa 2: The Rule

Best Film
Kalki 2898 AD

Best Villain
Kamal Haasan – Kalki 2898 AD

Best Supporting Actor
Amitabh Bachchan – Kalki 2898 AD

Best Supporting Actress
Anna Ben – Kalki 2898 AD

Best Comedian
Satya – Mathu Vadhalara 2

Best Cinematographer
Ratnavelu – Devara

Best Music Composer
Devi Sri Prasad – Pushpa 2: The Rule

Best Lyric Writer
Ramajogaiah Sastry for ‘Chuttamalle’ (Devara)

Best Singer (Male)
Kandukoori Shankar Babu for ‘Peelings’ (Pushpa 2: The Rule)

Best Singer (Female)
Shilpa Rao for ‘Chuttamalle’ (Devara)

Best Actor (Critics)
Teja Sajja – HanuMan

Best Actress (Critics)
Meenakshi Chaudhary – Lucky Baskhar

Best Director (Critics)
Prasanth Varma – HanuMan

Best Debut Actor
Sandeep Saroj – Committee Kurollu

Best Debut Actress
Bhagyashree Borse – Mr Bachchan

Best Debut Director
Nanda Kishore Yemani – 35 Oka Chinna Katha

Best Debut Producer
Niharika Konidela – Committee Kurollu

Kannada

Best Director
Upendra Kumar – UI

Best Actor (Male)
Sudeep – Max

Best Actor (Female)
Ashika Ranganath – O2

Best Film
Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi

Best Music Director – Kannada Award for MAX
B Ajaneesh Loknath

Best Actor In a Comedy Role
Jack Singham – Bheema

Best Debut Director
Sandeep Sunkad – Shakhakaari

Best Debut Actor (Male)
Samarjit Lankesh – Gowri

Best Debut (Female)
Ankita Amar

Promising Newcomer
Sanya Iyer – Gowri

Song Design of The Year-Imran S Sardhariya Special Award at SIIMA 2025
V Harikrishna

Best Cinematographer Kannada for Ibbani Tabbida Illeyali
Srivathsan Selvarajan

Best Playback Singer (Male)
Jaskaran

Best Playback Singer (Female)
Aishwarya Rangarajan

Best Lyric Writer
V Nagendra Prasad

Best Male Actor (Critics)
Duniya Vijay

Best Female Actor (Critics)
Roshni Prakash

For night two of SIIMA 2025, The Goat Life (Aadujeevitham) leads the way with 10 nominations. ARM and Aavesham have secured nine and eight nominations, respectively.