The 70th Filmfare Awards South with Kerala Tourism celebrated the pinnacle of South Indian cinema on February 21, 2026, at the Adlux Convention Centre in Kochi, Kerala. This landmark edition honored standout films and talents from the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada industries for releases primarily in 2025.
The event spotlighted massive commercial hits and critically acclaimed works. Pushpa 2: The Rule dominated Telugu with multiple wins including Best Film and Best Actor for Allu Arjun. Amaran triumphed in Tamil, securing Best Film, Best Actor (Sivakarthikeyan), and Best Actress (Sai Pallavi). In Malayalam, Manjummel Boys took Best Film, while Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) and Bramayugam earned strong recognition. Kannada’s Shakhahaari claimed Best Film. A notable cross-over win went to Amitabh Bachchan for Best Supporting Actor (Male) in Kalki 2898 AD.
Winners were selected via popular votes and critics’ choices, blending box-office success with artistic excellence. The ceremony featured dazzling performances, emotional moments, and a showcase of Kerala’s cultural heritage.
70th Filmfare Awards South Winners List – Full Highlights by Language
Telugu Winners
| Category | Winner & Film |
|---|---|
| Best Film | Pushpa 2: The Rule |
| Best Director | Sukumar (Pushpa 2: The Rule) |
| Best Film (Critics’) | Lucky Baskhar (Venky Atluri) |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) | Allu Arjun (Pushpa 2: The Rule) |
| Best Actor (Critics’) | Teja Sajja (Hanu-Man) |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role (Female) | Nivetha Thomas (35 Chinna Katha Kaadu) |
| Best Actress (Critics’) | Kajal Aggarwal (Satyabhama) |
| Best Supporting Actor (Male) | Amitabh Bachchan (Kalki 2898 AD) |
Pushpa 2: The Rule led with around five major awards, underscoring its blockbuster impact.
Tamil Winners
| Category | Winner & Film |
|---|---|
| Best Film | Amaran |
| Best Director | PS Vinothraj (Kottukkaali); Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran) – tie |
| Best Film (Critics’) | Meiyazhagan (C. Prem Kumar) |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) | Sivakarthikeyan (Amaran) |
| Best Actor (Critics’) | Arvind Swamy (Meiyazhagan) |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role (Female) | Sai Pallavi (Amaran) |
| Best Actress (Critics’) | Anna Ben (Kottukkaali) |
| Best Supporting Actor (Male) | Karthi (Meiyazhagan) |
Amaran, a heartfelt biographical tribute, emerged as a top winner across popular categories.
Malayalam Winners
| Category | Winner & Film |
|---|---|
| Best Film | Manjummel Boys |
| Best Director | Rahul Sadasivan (Bramayugam) |
| Best Film (Critics’) | Ullozhukku (Christo Tomy); Kishkindha Kaandam (Dinjith Ayyathan) – tie |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) | Mammootty (Bramayugam) |
| Best Actor (Critics’) | Prithviraj Sukumaran (Aadujeevitham); Asif Ali (Kishkindha Kaandam) – tie (noted in reports) |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role (Female) | Urvashi (Ullozhukku) |
| Best Actress (Critics’) | Zarin Shihab (Aattam) |
Aadujeevitham received significant acclaim for its powerful storytelling and performances.
Kannada Winners
| Category | Winner & Film |
|---|---|
| Best Film | Shakhahaari |
| Best Director | Prithvi Konanur (Hadinelentu) |
| Best Film (Critics’) | Blink (Srinidhi Bengaluru) |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) | Srii Murali (Bagheera) |
The Kannada category highlighted fresh narratives and emerging talents.
