IndiaGlitz got it right. A week after your favourite website broke the news that Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan would get State awards soon, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced that the two top stars of Tamil cinema had been adjudged the best actors of 2007 and 2008, respectively.

The awards also saw Chief Minister M Karunanidhi win a prize for the dialogues for ‘Uliyin Osai’ (2008). While Rajini was adjudged the best actor for ‘Sivaji’, Kamal was selected for ‘Dasavatharam’.

There are 31 awards announced for 2007 and 34 for 2008. Technicians, singers, comedians and character actors have also been nominated. Awards have also been announced for students of the Film and Television Institute. ‘Sivaji’ bagged five awards in 2007- best film, best villain – Suman, best comedian – Vivek, best female playback singer – Chinmayee, and best art director – Thotta Tharani.

Vidyasagar was named the best music director for ‘Mozhi’. Jyothika won the best actress award for her role in the same film, which also won the second best film award for 2007. The award for the third best film for that year was given to ‘Pallikoodam’ and Thankar Bachchan, who directed the film, was adjudged the best director. In 2007, the special prize went to ‘Periyar’.

Vairamuthu won the best lyricist award for ‘Periyar’ and other films, and the best cinematographer was Nirav Shah for his work in ‘Billa’.

Besides being selected as the best film of 2008, ‘Dasavatharam’ bagged two more awards, with Vaali getting the best lyricist award and Michael Westmore and Kothandapani jointly taking the best make-up artist award.

Sneha got the best actress award for the year 2008 for her performance in ‘Pirivom Santhippom’. Special awards were also given to male and female actors for each year. For 2007, the special prize went to Sathyaraj for his role as ‘Periyar’ and Priyamvatha for her role in ‘Mirugam.’ For 2008, the awards went to Suriya for ‘Varanam Aayiram’ and Trisha for ‘Abhiyum Naanum’.