South Indian Cinema Celebrated at SIIMA 2025 in Dubai: A Night of Triumphs
The glittering world of South Indian cinema recently converged in Dubai for the 11th edition of the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) on September 5th and 6th, 2025. This prestigious event honored the finest achievements in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films released over the past year. The first night of the awards showcased the exceptional talent within the Telugu and Kannada industries, setting the stage for the Malayalam and Tamil celebrations to follow.
Let’s dive into the highlights of the winners announced on September 5th, recognizing the artistry and dedication that define South Indian filmmaking.
Telugu Cinema Shines: SIIMA 2025 Winners
Telugu cinema dominated the evening, with Pushpa 2: The Rule and Kalki 2898 AD leading the pack. Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna were rightfully crowned Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, for their compelling performances in Pushpa 2: The Rule.
here’s a complete rundown of the Telugu winners:
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 (Chuttamalle – Devara)
Best Singer (Male): Kandukoori Shankar Babu (Peelings – Pushpa 2: The Rule)
best Singer (Female): Shilpa Rao (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)
These awards reflect not only individual brilliance but also the collaborative spirit that brings these cinematic visions to life. You can clearly see the impact of these films on audiences and critics alike.
Kannada Cinema‘s Rising Stars: SIIMA 2025 Honors
Kannada cinema also had its moment to shine, celebrating both established names and exciting newcomers. Sudeep took home the award for Best Actor (Male) for his performance in Max, while ashika Ranganath was recognized as Best Actress (Female) for Avatara Purusha 2.
Here’s a look at the Kannada winners:
Best Film: Krishnam Pranaya sakhi
Best director: Upendra Kumar (UI)
Best Actor (Male): Sudeep (Max)
Best Actor (Female): Ashika