7-Year Wait Ends: Tamil Nadu State Film Awards (2016-2022) Announced!

January 30, 2026 Published by Natarajan Karuppiah

In a move that fulfills the long-standing expectations of Tamil cinema artists, the Government of Tamil Nadu officially announced the State Film Awards for the seven-year period from 2016 to 2022 yesterday (January 29, 2026). These awards have been presented across various categories, including Best Films, Actors, Actresses, and Technical Experts.

List of Key Winners

The awards have prioritized high-quality productions that have shaped the course of Tamil cinema over the past seven years.

Prize Details

On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Government, the winners will receive the following honors:

A one-sovereign gold medal.

A memento and a certificate.

Cash prizes for Best Films: ₹2 Lakhs (1st Prize), ₹1 Lakh (2nd Prize), and ₹75,000 (3rd Prize).

Key Information: The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 13th at the Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will be presenting the awards.

This announcement has sparked great enthusiasm within the film fraternity. In particular, the recognition given to small-budget films and content-driven stories is being widely appreciated