The 70th Filmfare Awards South was held on Saturday night in Kochi, bringing together some of the biggest names in South Indian cinema. The ceremony honoured films released in 2024, celebrating artistic excellence across acting, direction, music and technical crafts.
The evening belonged largely to Pushpa 2: The Rule, which dominated the awards list and emerged as the biggest winner of the night.
“Pushpa 2” Leads the Night
Pushpa 2: The Rule secured the Best Film award, reaffirming its massive commercial and critical success. Director Sukumar took home the Best Director trophy for his work on the film.
In the acting category, Allu Arjun won Best Actor, further strengthening his association with the blockbuster franchise.
The film also claimed Best Music Album, while its production design team, Ramakrishna-Monika, shared the Best Production Design award with Nitin Zihani for Kalki 2898 AD.
Acting Honours and Breakthrough Performances
Among the top acting honours, Nivetha Thomas won Best Actress for her performance in 35: Chinna Katha Kaadu. Her portrayal was widely praised for its emotional depth and authenticity.
In the supporting categories, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan received Best Supporting Actor for his role in Kalki 2898 AD, while Anjali won Best Supporting Actress for Gangs of Godavari.
Debut Awards Spotlight Emerging Talent
The ceremony also highlighted fresh talent in the industry. Yadu Vamsi won Best Debut Director, and Sandeep Saroj secured Best Debut Actor, both for Committee Kurrollu.
Nayan Sarika was honoured with the Best Debut Actress award for her performance in Gam Gam Ganesha.
Musical and Technical Excellence
Music remained a major highlight of the night. Ramajogayya Sastry won Best Lyrics for “Chuttamalle” from Devara.
Shilpa Rao received Best Female Singer for the same song, while Sri Krishna won Best Male Singer for “Kurchi Madathapetti” from Guntur Kaaram.
Choreographer Sekhar Master earned the Best Choreography award for “Kurchi Madathapetti,” one of the year’s most popular dance numbers.
Critics’ Choice Awards
The Critics’ Awards recognised a different set of standout performances and films. Lucky Bhaskar won Best Film (Critics).
Teja Sajja was named Best Actor (Critics), while Kajal Aggarwal received Best Actress (Critics) for her role in Satyabhama.
A Celebration of South Indian Cinema
The 70th edition of the awards underscored the growing scale and diversity of South Indian cinema. From blockbuster spectacles like Pushpa 2 to critically acclaimed dramas and powerful debut performances, the ceremony reflected the industry’s evolving creative landscape.
With grand performances, emotional acceptance speeches, and a strong lineup of winners, the night in Kochi celebrated not only commercial success but also artistic innovation across the region’s film industries.
