The South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2025 celebrated the finest in Telugu cinema with a spectacular ceremony held in Dubai on September 5-6, 2025. This year’s awards witnessed an incredible triumph for Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD, with Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna taking home the coveted Best Actor awards!
Table of Contents
SIIMA 2025 Complete Winners List
| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Kalki 2898 AD | Nag Ashwin |
| Best Director | Sukumar | Pushpa 2 |
| Best Director (Critics) | Prasanth Varma | HanuMan |
| Best Actor | Allu Arjun | Pushpa 2 |
| Best Actress | Rashmika Mandanna | Pushpa 2 |
| Best Actor (Critics) | Teja Sajja | HanuMan |
| Best Actress (Critics) | Meenakshi Chaudhary | Lucky Baskhar |
| Best Supporting Actor | Amitabh Bachchan | Kalki 2898 AD |
| Best Supporting Actress | Anna Ben | Kalki 2898 AD |
| Best Villain | Kamal Haasan | Kalki 2898 AD |
| Best Music Director | Devi Sri Prasad | Pushpa 2 |
| Best Lyricist | Ramajogayya Sastry | Devara (Chuttamalle) |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Shankar Babu Kandukuri | Pushpa 2 (Peelings) |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Shilpa Rao | Devara (Chuttamalle) |
| Best Cinematography | Rathnavelu | Devara |
Major Highlights of SIIMA 2025
Pushpa 2’s Spectacular Win
Director Sukumar was honored with the Best Director Award for Pushpa 2, while the Best Actor award went to Allu Arjun for Pushpa 2, and Rashmika Mandanna bagged Best Actress for the same film. The Sukumar directorial completely dominated the main categories, proving its massive impact on Telugu cinema.
Kalki 2898 AD’s Technical Excellence
The event honored a wide range of performances and movies from Telugu cinema, with Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Deepika Padukone starrer Kalki 2898 AD receiving the Best Film Award. The futuristic epic also swept the supporting categories with stellar performances from Bollywood legends.
Critics’ Choice Recognition
Teja Sajja was awarded the Best Actor (Critics) award for HanuMan, while Meenakshi Chaudhary was awarded Best Actress (Critics) for Lucky Baskhar, showcasing the diversity and quality of Telugu cinema beyond mainstream blockbusters.
Film Spotlight: The Big Winners
Pushpa 2: The Rule Continues
Pushpa 2, starring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles, is a sequel to Pushpa (2021), both directed by Sukumar. The movie explores the story of a sandalwood smuggler, Pushparaj, who risks everything to rise within his crime syndicate.
Key Achievements:
- Best Director (Sukumar)
- Best Actor (Allu Arjun)
- Best Actress (Rashmika Mandanna)
- Best Music Director (Devi Sri Prasad)
- Best Male Playback Singer (Peelings)
Kalki 2898 AD: Sci-Fi Excellence
Kalki 2898 AD was a futuristic sci-fi epic movie taking inspiration from the mythological texts of the Mahabharata. The Prabhas starrer had Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Kamal Haasan in key roles and was directed by Nag Ashwin.
Awards Haul:
- Best Film
- Best Supporting Actor (Amitabh Bachchan)
- Best Supporting Actress (Anna Ben)
- Best Villain (Kamal Haasan)
HanuMan: Superhero Success
HanuMan, directed by Prasanth Varma, featured a superhero film where a youngster is granted the powers of Lord Hanuman after coming in contact with a mysterious gem. The film proved that original superhero content can compete with established franchises.
Music and Technical Excellence
Outstanding Musical Contributions
The awards also honored Ramajogayya Sastry with the Best Lyricist for the song Chuttamalle from Jr NTR’s Devara: Part 1, composed by Anirudh Ravichander. The song became a chartbuster, showcasing the power of exceptional lyrics in Telugu cinema.
Vocal Performances
Shankar Babu Kandukuri won Best Male Playback Singer for the song Peelings (Pushpa 2), while Shilpa Rao took the Best Female Playback Singer award for Chuttamalle (Devara). These awards highlight the incredible vocal talent in South Indian cinema.
Technical Mastery
In the technical category, the Best Cinematography Award was bagged by Rathnavelu for Devara, demonstrating the visual excellence that has become synonymous with Telugu blockbusters.
Why SIIMA 2025 Matters
The Dubai ceremony showcased the global appeal of Telugu cinema, with international venues hosting South Indian film celebrations. This year’s awards particularly emphasized:
Diverse Storytelling: From mythological sci-fi to superhero adventures Technical Excellence: World-class cinematography and music production Star Power: Established actors delivering career-defining performances Critics’ Recognition: Balance between commercial success and artistic merit
The Global Impact
SIIMA’s choice of Dubai as the venue reflects Telugu cinema’s international reach. Films like Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD have transcended regional boundaries, appealing to global audiences and setting new benchmarks for Indian cinema.
For comprehensive coverage of South Indian cinema and detailed film reviews, check out technosports.co.in for the latest updates!
Industry Recognition
The awards ceremony honored both commercial blockbusters and content-driven films, proving that Telugu cinema has matured to embrace multiple storytelling formats. From Allu Arjun’s mass appeal to Prabhas’s pan-Indian stardom, SIIMA 2025 celebrated cinema’s evolution.
Looking Ahead
With winners like Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD setting new standards, Telugu cinema continues its upward trajectory. These films have not only entertained audiences but also elevated the technical and artistic standards of regional filmmaking.
The success of diverse films like HanuMan and Lucky Baskhar proves that audiences appreciate original content alongside star-driven entertainers.
Stay updated with the latest film industry news and awards coverage at technosports.co.in!
FAQs
Q: Which films dominated the SIIMA Awards 2025 and what were their major wins?
A: Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD were the biggest winners at SIIMA 2025. Pushpa 2 dominated with Best Director (Sukumar), Best Actor (Allu Arjun), Best Actress (Rashmika Mandanna), and Best Music Director (Devi Sri Prasad). Meanwhile, Kalki 2898 AD won Best Film and swept the supporting categories with Amitabh Bachchan (Best Supporting Actor), Anna Ben (Best Supporting Actress), and Kamal Haasan (Best Villain).
Q: Where were the SIIMA Awards 2025 held and what made this ceremony special?
A: The South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2025 were held in Dubai on September 5-6, 2025. This ceremony was special because it showcased Telugu cinema’s global appeal with an international venue, celebrated diverse storytelling from mythological sci-fi epics to superhero films, and honored both commercial blockbusters and critics’ choice films, proving the maturity and evolution of South Indian cinema on the world stage.
