The IIFA Utsavam 2024, held in Abu Dhabi, was a spectacular event that brought together some of the biggest names in South Indian and Bollywood cinema. The three-day celebration kicked off with glamour and grandeur, attracting a star-studded lineup that included celebrated figures like filmmaker Mani Ratnam, actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and industry veterans Chiranjeevi, Nandamuri Balakrishna, AR Rahman, Rana Daggubati, and Venkatesh Daggubati. Bollywood stars such as Shahid Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Kriti Sanon, Karan Johar, Aishwarya Rai, Javed Akhtar, and Shabana Azmi also graced the event, adding to its prestige.
The evening’s highlight was the announcement of the winners, celebrating the best performances and contributions across South Indian cinema. Actor Nani took home the Best Actor Award (Telugu) for his outstanding performance in Dasara, a role that has earned him widespread acclaim. Meanwhile, celebrated filmmaker Mani Ratnam won the Best Director Award (Tamil) for his epic Ponniyin Selvan: II, a film praised for its visual grandeur and compelling storytelling. Megastar Chiranjeevi was honored with the Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award, recognizing his decades-long contribution to the industry.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu received the prestigious 'Woman of the Year in Indian Cinema' award, a testament to her influence and impact in the industry. Among other notable winners, Aishwarya Rai was awarded Best Actress (Tamil) for her role in Ponniyin Selvan: II, while Vikram took home the Best Actor (Tamil) award for the same film. The legendary AR Rahman was recognized for his Best Music Direction in Ponniyin Selvan: II, adding yet another accolade to his illustrious career.
Other key winners included SJ Suryah, who won Best Performance in a Negative Role (Tamil) for Mark Antony, and Jayaram, who received the Best Supporting Actor (Tamil) award for Ponniyin Selvan: II. The event also celebrated Nandamuri Balakrishna with the Golden Legacy Award and Priyadarshan for his Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema.
Here's the full list of winners
Best Picture (Tamil): Jailer
Best Actor (Telugu): Nani (Dasara)
Best Actor (Tamil): Vikram (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
Best Actress (Tamil): Aishwarya Rai (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
Best Director (Tamil): Mani Ratnam (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
Best Music Direction (Tamil): AR Rahman (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema: Chiranjeevi
Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema: Priyadarshan
Best Performance in a Negative Role (Tamil): SJ Suryah (Mark Antony)
Best Performance in a Negative Role (Telugu): Shine Tom Chacko (Dasara)
Best Performance in a Negative Role (Malayalam): Arjun Radhakrishnan (Kannur Squad)
Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Male – Tamil): Jayaram (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Female – Tamil): Sahasra Shree (Chithha)
Golden Legacy Award: Nandamuri Balakrishna
Outstanding Excellence in Kannada cinema: Rishab Shetty
Best Debut (Female – Kannada): Aradhana Ram (Kaatera)
Best Director (Kannada): Tharun Sudhir (Kaatera)
The festivities will continue over the next two days, with Bollywood icons like Shah Rukh Khan, Vicky Kaushal, and Karan Johar set to entertain the audience at the IIFA Awards night. Rekha is also expected to make a much-anticipated return to the IIFA stage. Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Ananya Panday, and Janhvi Kapoor will add charm with their performances. The event will culminate on September 29 with the exclusive IIFA Rocks concert, featuring performances by Honey Singh, Shilpa Rao, and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
Image Source: Twitter