Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil

Filmfare Awards South for Best Actor
Filmfare Awards South for Best Actor
	The 2024 recipient: Vikram
Awarded for	Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Tamil
Country	India
Presented by	Filmfare
First award	Sivaji Ganesan, ; Gnana Oli (1972)
Currently held by	Vikram ; Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023)
Website	Filmfare Awards

The Filmfare Best Actor Award is given by the Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Tamil film lead actors. The Filmfare Awards South Awards were extended to "Best Actor" in 1972.^[1]^[2] The year indicates the year of release of the film.

Superlatives

Kamal Hassan (top) has the record of 11 wins and most nominations with 30 in this category and Suriya (bottom) has 14 Nominations and has won the award three times.

Superlative	Actor	Record
Actor with most awards	Kamal Hassan	11 wins
Actor with most nominations	Kamal Hassan	30 nominations
Actor with most consecutive years nominations	Kamal Haasan (1985–1996)	12 nominations
Oldest winner	Sivaji Ganesan	72
Oldest Nominee	Sivaji Ganesan	72
Youngest award winner	Kamal Haasan	21
Youngest Nominee	Dhanush and Kamal Haasan	21
Actors with most consecutive wins	Kamal Haasan	4 wins (1975–1978)
Actors with most nominations without a win	Vijay	8 nominations

Kamal Hassan with eleven wins, has most number of awards than any other actor. Vikram has six wins, followed by Karthik and Dhanush with four wins. Four actors have won the award thrice in chronological order. They are Sivaji Ganesan, Sarath Kumar, Ajith Kumar and Suriya. Actors Sivakumar and Vijay Sethupathi has two wins each.
Vikram, Dhanush, Karthi, Suriya and R. Madhavan are the five actors to win both Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and Vikram is the first actor to win this honour.
Sathyaraj, Suriya and R. Madhavan have won both Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil.
Kamal Hassan was the most victorious actor with four wins in the 70s. Karthik ruled the 80s with two wins. In the 90s, Kamal Haasan outperformed every other actors with four wins. Vikram was the most successful actor with three wins in the 2000s. Dhanush was the most successful actor in the 2010s with four wins.
Seven actors have won the awards in consecutive years; in chronological order, they are Sivaji Ganesan (1972–1973), Kamal Haasan (1975–1978, 1991–1992 and 1995–1996), Sivakumar (1979–1980), Karthik (1988–1990), Sarathkumar (1997–1998), Dhanush (2011–2012) and Vijay Sethupathi (2017–2018).
Suriya and R. Madhavan are the two actors to have won Filmfare Awards South in three major actor categories : Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor Critics which was achieved by them as of 2016 & 2017 respectively.
R. Madhavan became the first actor and the only actor to have won Filmfare Awards South in four different acting categories: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor critics and Best Male Debut awards once each.
There was only one tie in 2018 between Dhanush and Vijay Sethupathi.
Karthi was the only actor to win the award for his debut performance in Tamil.
Kamal Haasan has the most nominations with 34, followed by Rajinikanth with 18.
Suriya and Karthi are the only siblings to be awarded in this category.

Multiple wins

11 wins: Kamal Haasan
6 wins: Vikram
4 wins: Karthik, Dhanush
3 wins: Sivaji Ganesan, Sarath Kumar, Ajith Kumar, Suriya
2 wins: Sivakumar, Vijay Sethupathi

Multiple nominations

Multiple nominations :

34 nominations: Kamal Haasan
18 nominations: Rajinikanth
14 nominations: Suriya
12 nominations: Dhanush
11 nominations: Vikram
10 nominations: Sivaji Ganesan, Ajith Kumar
8 nominations: Vijay Sethupathi, Vijay
6 nominations: Sivakumar, K. Bhagyaraj, Vijayakanth, Karthik
5 nominations: Mohan, Karthi
4 nominations: M. G. Ramachandran, Sathyaraj, Prabhu, Madhavan, Jayam Ravi, Sarath Kumar, Arvind Swami
3 nominations: Arya, Silambarasan
2 nominations: Siddharth, Jiiva, Prakash Raj, Arjun Sarja, Vijayakumar, Sudhakar, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Narain

Winners

Year	Recipient	Role	Film	Ref
1972	Sivaji Ganesan	Anthony	Gnana Oli	^[3]^[4]
1973	Sivaji Ganesan	• Rajinikanth • Kannan	Gauravam	^[5]^[6]
1974	Gemini Ganesan	David Ashirvadham	Naan Avanillai	^[7]
1975	Kamal Haasan	Prasanna	Apoorva Raagangal	^[8]
1976	Kamal Haasan	Ravi	Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu	^[9]
1977	Kamal Haasan	Gopalakrishnan	16 Vayadhinile	^[10]^[11]
1978	Kamal Haasan	Muthu / Dileep	Sigappu Rojakal	^[12]
1979	Sivakumar	Sempattai	Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari	^[13]
1980	Sivakumar	Gaja	Vandichakkaram	^[14]
1981	Kamal Haasan	Raghu	Raja Paarvai	^[15]
1982	Mohan	Ravi Kumar	Payanangal Mudivathillai	^[16]^[17]
1983	K. Bhagyaraj	Shanmugamani	Mundhanai Mudichu	^[18]
1984	Rajinikanth	Manikkam	Nallavanukku Nallavan	^[19]
1985	Sivaji Ganesan	Malaichami	Muthal Mariyathai	^[20]
1986	Vijayakanth	Chinnamani	Amman Kovil Kizhakale	^[21]
1987	Sathyaraj	Balu Thevar	Vedham Pudhithu	^[22]
1988	Karthik	Ashok	Agni Natchathiram	^[23]
1989	Karthik	Kannan	Varusham Padhinaaru	^[24]^[25]^[26]
1990	Karthik	Ponnurangam	Kizhakku Vasal	^[27]^[23]
1991	Kamal Haasan	Gunasekharan	Guna	^[28]^[29]
1992	Kamal Haasan	Sakthivelu Thevar	Thevar Magan	^[30]
1993	Karthik	Ponnumani	Ponnumani	^[23]
1994	R. Sarathkumar	• Shanmugam • Pasupathi	Nattamai	^[31]^[32]
1995	Kamal Haasan	Adhi Narayanan	Kuruthipunal	^[29]
1996	Kamal Haasan	• Senapathy • Chandrabose	Indian	^[33]^[34]
1997	R. Sarathkumar	• Sakthivel Gounder • Chinnarasu	Suryavamsam	^{[citation needed]}
1998	R. Sarathkumar	• Chinnayya • Muthaiyya	Natpukkaga	^[35]
1999	Ajith Kumar	• Deva • Shiva	Vaalee	^[36]
2000	Kamal Haasan	Saket Raman Iyengar	Hey Ram	^[37]
2001	Vikram	Kasi	Kasi	^[38]
2002	Ajith Kumar	• Shiva • Vishnu	Villain	^[39]
2003	Vikram	Chithan	Pithamagan	^{[citation needed]}
2004	Suriya	• Chinna • Karthik	Perazhagan	^{[citation needed]}
2005	Vikram	Ramanujam / Remo / Anniyan	Anniyan	^{[citation needed]}
2006	Ajith Kumar	• Shivashankar • Vishnu • Jeeva	Varalaaru	^[40]
2007	Karthi	Paruthiveeran	Paruthiveeran	^[41]
2008	Suriya	• Krishnan • Suriya Krishnan	Vaaranam Aayiram	^[42]
2009	Prakash Raj	Vengadam	Kanchivaram	^[43]
2010	Vikram	Veeraiya	Raavanan	^[44]
2011	Dhanush	K. P. Karuppu	Aadukalam	^[45]
2012	Dhanush	Raam	3	^[46]
2013	Atharvaa	Raasa	Paradesi	^[47]
2014	Dhanush	Raghuvaran	Velaiilla Pattadhari	^[48]
2015	Vikram	Lingesan	I	^[49]
2016	R. Madhavan	Prabhu Selvaraj	Irudhi Suttru	^[50]
2017	Vijay Sethupathi	Vedha	Vikram Vedha	^[51]
2018	Dhanush	Anbu	Vada Chennai	^[52]
2018	Vijay Sethupathi	Ram	'96	^[52]
2020 2021	Suriya	Nedumaaran Rajangam (Maara)	Soorarai Pottru	^{[citation needed]}
2022	Kamal Haasan	Agent Arun Kumar/Vikram	Vikram	^[53]
2023	Vikram	Aditha Karikalan	Ponniyin Selvan: II

Nominations

References

^ "Filmfare Awards South Tamil Winners". 31 July 2024.
^ The Times of India directory and year book including who's who 1984. 1914.
^ "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 14 October 1973.
^ "20th Annual Filmfare Winners Tamil". 15 April 2025.
^ "21st Annual Filmfare Awards South Winners". 6 August 2024.
^ Reed, Sir Stanley (14 October 1974). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman & Company.
^ Reed, Sir Stanley (14 October 1984). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman.
^ Reed, Sir Stanley (14 October 1984). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman.
^ Reed, Sir Stanley (14 October 1984). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman.
^ "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 14 October 1979.
^ "25th Annual Filmfare Tamil Winners". 15 April 2025.
^ "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 14 October 1982.
^ "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 14 October 1982.
^ "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.
^ "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.
^ "30th Filmfare Awards Winners". 2 April 2024.
^ "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.
^ "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.
^ "Collections". 1991.
^ "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.
^ "Collections". 1991.
^ "Veterans steal the show at 61st Idea Filmfare Awards". The Times of India. 13 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Filmfare Best Actor Actress Director Tamil : Santosh Kumar : Free Dow..." 1 May 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018.
^ "37th Annual Filmfare Awards South Best Actor Winners". 31 July 2024.
^ "37th Annual Filmfare Awards South winners". 22 April 2022.
^ "Vidura". C. Sarkar. 14 October 1990.
^ "38th Filmfare Awards South Winners Tamil Malayalam Actors". 16 April 2025.
^ https://archive.org/download/39thAnnualFilmfareTamilBestActorActress/39th%20Annual%20Filmfare%20Tamil%20Best%20Actor%20Actress.jpg ^{[bare URL image file]}
^ ^a ^b Dave, Kajol. "Filmfare trivia: Kamal Haasan". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
^ "40th Awards – Best Director" (JPG).
^ "42nd Filmfare South Tamil Winners". 22 August 2024.
^ https://archive.org/download/42ndFilmfareTamilBestActorActressWinners/42nd%20filmfare%20tamil%20best%20actor%20actress%20winners.jpg ^{[bare URL image file]}
^ "Filmfare – South Special". 18 October 1999. Archived from the original on 18 October 1999.
^ "Kamal wins 17th Film fare award for role in Indian". The Economic Times. 8 July 1997. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
^ "46th Awards – Winners" (JPG).
^ "Filmfare – Print Edition". downloads.movies.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2004. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
^ Kannan, Ramya (24 March 2001). "Trophy time for tinseldom". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011.
^ "Nuvvu Nenu wins 4 Filmfare awards". The Times of India. 6 April 2002. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015.
^ "Ajit, Simran bag Filmfare awards". The Times of India. 17 May 2003. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.
^ "FilmfareAwardsSouthBestActors2006". 31 January 2025.
^ "I want to look nice shirtless: Karthi". The Times of India. 23 July 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.
^ "The glowing filmfare night!". The Times of India. 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.
^ "Prakash Raj film got to be good: Prakash". The Times of India. 17 August 2010. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.
^ "Mani sir, I owe you one". The Times of India. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012.
^ "59th Idea Filmfare Awards South (Winners list)".
^ "List of Winners at the 60th Idea Filmfare Awards (South)".
^ "Winners of 61st Idea Filmfare Awards South".
^ "Winners of 62nd Britannia Filmfare Awards South".
^ "Winners of the 63rd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South)".
^ "Winners of the 64th Jio Filmfare Awards (South)".
^ "Winners of the 64th Jio Filmfare Awards (South)".
^ "Winners of the 66th Filmfare Awards (South) 2019". Filmfare. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
^ "Winners of the 68th Filmfare Awards South (Tamil) 2023". Filmfare. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^ Filmfare Magazine August 1982, 29th Annual Filmfare Awards - Regional films winners & nominees
^ Filmfare Awards 2004 ( Best Actor in Tamil ). Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.
^ "The 55th Filmfare South Awards in Chennai on July 12". Televisionpoint. Bhash Media Private Limited. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2012.

Bibliography

Ramachandran, T.M. (1973). Film world. Vol. 9.
Collections. Update Video Publication. 1991.
The Times of India directory and year book including who's who. Times of India Press. 1984.

[1] "Filmfare Awards South Tamil Winners". 31 July 2024.

[2] The Times of India directory and year book including who's who 1984. 1914.

[3] "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 14 October 1973.

[4] "20th Annual Filmfare Winners Tamil". 15 April 2025.

[5] "21st Annual Filmfare Awards South Winners". 6 August 2024.

[6] Reed, Sir Stanley (14 October 1974). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman & Company.

[7] Reed, Sir Stanley (14 October 1984). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman.

[8] Reed, Sir Stanley (14 October 1984). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman.

[9] Reed, Sir Stanley (14 October 1984). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman.

[10] "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 14 October 1979.

[11] "25th Annual Filmfare Tamil Winners". 15 April 2025.

[12] "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 14 October 1982.

[13] "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". 14 October 1982.

[14] "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.

[15] "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.

[16] "30th Filmfare Awards Winners". 2 April 2024.

[Collections-17] "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.

[18] "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.

[19] "Collections". 1991.

[20] "Collections". Update Video Publication. 14 October 1991.

[21] "Collections". 1991.

[22] "Veterans steal the show at 61st Idea Filmfare Awards". The Times of India. 13 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.

[archive.org-23] "Filmfare Best Actor Actress Director Tamil : Santosh Kumar : Free Dow..." 1 May 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018.

[24] "37th Annual Filmfare Awards South Best Actor Winners". 31 July 2024.

[25] "37th Annual Filmfare Awards South winners". 22 April 2022.

[26] "Vidura". C. Sarkar. 14 October 1990.

[27] "38th Filmfare Awards South Winners Tamil Malayalam Actors". 16 April 2025.

[28] ttps://archive.org/download/39thAnnualFilmfareTamilBestActorActress/39th%20Annual%20Filmfare%20Tamil%20Best%20Actor%20Actress.jpg ^{[bare URL image file]}

[kajol-29] Dave, Kajol. "Filmfare trivia: Kamal Haasan". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.

[30] "40th Awards – Best Director" (JPG).

[31] "42nd Filmfare South Tamil Winners". 22 August 2024.

[32] ttps://archive.org/download/42ndFilmfareTamilBestActorActressWinners/42nd%20filmfare%20tamil%20best%20actor%20actress%20winners.jpg ^{[bare URL image file]}

[33] "Filmfare – South Special". 18 October 1999. Archived from the original on 18 October 1999.

[34] "Kamal wins 17th Film fare award for role in Indian". The Economic Times. 8 July 1997. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.

[35] "46th Awards – Winners" (JPG).

[36] "Filmfare – Print Edition". downloads.movies.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2004. Retrieved 11 January 2022.

[37] Kannan, Ramya (24 March 2001). "Trophy time for tinseldom". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011.

[38] "Nuvvu Nenu wins 4 Filmfare awards". The Times of India. 6 April 2002. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015.

[39] "Ajit, Simran bag Filmfare awards". The Times of India. 17 May 2003. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.

[40] "FilmfareAwardsSouthBestActors2006". 31 January 2025.

[41] "I want to look nice shirtless: Karthi". The Times of India. 23 July 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.

[42] "The glowing filmfare night!". The Times of India. 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.

[43] "Prakash Raj film got to be good: Prakash". The Times of India. 17 August 2010. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.

[44] "Mani sir, I owe you one". The Times of India. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012.

[45] "59th Idea Filmfare Awards South (Winners list)".

[46] "List of Winners at the 60th Idea Filmfare Awards (South)".

[47] "Winners of 61st Idea Filmfare Awards South".

[:2-48] "Winners of 62nd Britannia Filmfare Awards South".

[49] "Winners of the 63rd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South)".

[:3-50] "Winners of the 64th Jio Filmfare Awards (South)".

[:0-51] "Winners of the 64th Jio Filmfare Awards (South)".

[52] "Winners of the 66th Filmfare Awards (South) 2019". Filmfare. Retrieved 22 December 2019.

[53] "Winners of the 68th Filmfare Awards South (Tamil) 2023". Filmfare. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

[54] Filmfare Magazine August 1982, 29th Annual Filmfare Awards - Regional films winners & nominees

[55] Filmfare Awards 2004 ( Best Actor in Tamil ). Archived from the original on 15 April 2016.

[56] "The 55th Filmfare South Awards in Chennai on July 12". Televisionpoint. Bhash Media Private Limited. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2012.

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v t e Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor
1972–1989	Sivaji Ganesan (1972) Sivaji Ganesan (1973) Gemini Ganesan (1974) Kamal Haasan (1975) Kamal Haasan (1976) Kamal Haasan (1977) Kamal Haasan (1978) Sivakumar (1979) Sivakumar (1980) Kamal Haasan (1981) Mohan (1982) Bhagyaraj (1983) Rajinikanth (1984) Sivaji Ganesan (1985) Vijayakanth (1986) Sathyaraj (1987) Karthik (1988) Karthik (1989)
1990–2009	Karthik (1990) Kamal Haasan (1991) Kamal Haasan (1992) Karthik (1993) R. Sarathkumar (1994) Kamal Haasan (1995) Kamal Haasan (1996) R. Sarathkumar (1997) R. Sarathkumar (1998) Ajith Kumar (1999) Kamal Haasan (2000) Vikram (2001) Ajith Kumar (2002) Vikram (2003) Suriya (2004) Vikram (2005) Ajith Kumar (2006) Karthi (2007) Suriya (2008) Prakash Raj (2009)
2010–2019	Vikram (2010) Dhanush (2011) Dhanush (2012) Atharvaa (2013) Dhanush (2014) Vikram (2015) R. Madhavan (2016) Vijay Sethupathi (2017) Dhanush / Vijay Sethupathi (2018) Suriya (2020–2021) Kamal Haasan (2022) Vikram (2023)

Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil

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Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil

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