Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil

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.

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

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		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
Actors with most consecutive wins	Kamal Haasan	4 wins (1975–1978)
Actors with most nominations without a win	Vijay	8 nominations

• Kamal Hassan with eleventh wins, has most number of awards than any other actor. Vikram has five 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.

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	Photos of Winners	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	[35][36]
1998		R. Sarathkumar	• Chinnayya  • Muthaiyya	Natpukkaga	[37]
1999		Ajith Kumar	• Deva  • Shiva	Vaali	[38]
2000		Kamal Haasan	Saket Raman Iyengar	Hey Ram	[39]
2001		Vikram	Kasi	Kasi	[40]
2002		Ajith Kumar	• Shiva  • Vishnu	Villain	[41]
2003		Vikram	Chithan	Pithamagan	[42]
2004		Suriya	• Chinna  • Karthik	Perazhagan	[43]
2005		Vikram	Ramanujam / Remo / Anniyan	Anniyan	[44]
2006		Ajith Kumar	• Shivashankar  • Vishnu  • Jeeva	Varalaaru	[45][44]
2007		Karthi	Paruthiveeran	Paruthiveeran	[46]
2008		Suriya	• Krishnan  • Suriya Krishnan	Vaaranam Aayiram	[47]
2009		Prakash Raj	Vengadam	Kanchivaram	[48]
2010		Vikram	Veeraiya	Raavanan	[49]
2011		Dhanush	K. P. Karuppu	Aadukalam	[50]
2012		Dhanush	Raam	3	[51]
2013		Atharvaa	Raasa	Paradesi	[52]
2014		Dhanush	Raghuvaran	Velaiilla Pattadhari	[53]
2015		Vikram	Lingesan	I	[54]
2016		R. Madhavan	Prabhu Selvaraj	Irudhi Suttru	[55]
2017		Vijay Sethupathi	Vedha	Vikram Vedha	[56]
2018		Dhanush	Anbu	Vada Chennai	[57]
		Vijay Sethupathi	Ram	'96
2020 2021		Suriya	Nedumaaran Rajangam (Maara)	Soorarai Pottru	[43]
2022		Kamal Haasan	Agent Arun Kumar/Vikram	Vikram	[58]
2023		Vikram	Aditha Karikalan	Ponniyin Selvan: II

Nominations

1970s

• 1972 Sivaji Ganesan – Gnana Oli
• 1973 Sivaji Ganesan – Gauravam
• 1974 Gemini Ganesan – Naan Avan Illai
  • M. G. Ramachandran – Urimai Kural
  • Sivaji Ganesan – Thanga Pathakkam
• 1975 Kamal Haasan – Apoorva Raagangal
  • M. G. Ramachandran – Idhayakkani
  • Sivaji Ganesan – Vaira Nenjam
• 1976 Kamal Haasan – Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu
  • Jaishankar – Thunive Thunai
  • M. G. Ramachandran – Needhikku Thalaivanangu
  • Sivaji Ganesan – Chitra Pournami
  • Sivakumar – Annakili
• 1977 Kamal Haasan – 16 Vayathinile
  • Kamal Haasan – Avargal
  • M. G. Ramachandran – Navarathinam
  • Sivaji Ganesan – Dheepam
  • Sivakumar – Aattukara Alamelu
• 1978 Kamal Haasan – Sigappu Rojakkal
  • Kamal Haasan – Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu
  • Rajinikanth – Mullum Malarum
  • Sivaji Ganesan – Thyagam
  • Sudhakar – Kizhakke Pogum Rail
• 1979 Sivakumar – Rosappu Ravikkaikari
  • Kamal Haasan – Ninaithale Inikkum
  • Pratap Pothen – Azhiyatha Kolangal
  • Rajinikanth – Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
  • Vijayan – Uthiri Pookkal

1980s

• 1980 Sivakumar – Vandichakkaram
  • Kamal Haasan – Varumayin Niram Sigappu
  • Pratap Pothen – Nenjathai Killathe
  • Rajinikanth – Johnny
  • Sudhakar – Kallukkul Eeram
• 1981 Kamal Haasan – Raja Paarvai^[59]
  • Sivaji Ganesan - Kalthoon
  • Sivaji Ganesan - Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum
• 1982 Mohan – Payanangal Mudivathillai
  • Kamal Haasan – Moondram Pirai
  • Kamal Haasan – Vaazhve Mayam
  • Rajinikanth – Moondru Mugam
  • Sivakumar – Agni Sakshi
• 1983 Bhagyaraj – Mundhanai Mudichu
  • Pandiyan – Mann Vasanai
  • Sivaji Ganesan – Imaigal
  • T. Rajendar – Thangaikkor Geetham
  • Thiagarajan – Malaiyoor Mambattiyan
• 1984 Rajinikanth – Nallavanukku Nallavan
  • Mohan – Nooravathu Naal
  • Rajesh – Achamillai Achamillai
  • Sivaji Ganesan – Vaazhkai
  • Vijayakanth – Vaidehi Kathirunthal
• 1985 Sivaji Ganesan – Muthal Mariyathai
  • Bhagyaraj – Chinna Veedu
  • Kamal Haasan – Oru Kaidhiyin Diary
  • Mohan – Idaya Kovil
  • Sivakumar – Sindhu Bhairavi
• 1986 Vijayakanth – Amman Kovil Kizhakale
  • Kamal Haasan – Punnagai Mannan
  • Mohan – Mouna Ragam
  • Prabhu – Aruvadai Naal
  • Visu – Samsaram Adhu Minsaram
• 1987 Sathyaraj – Vedham Pudhithu
  • Bhagyaraj – Enga Chinna Rasa
  • Kamal Haasan – Nayakan
  • Mohan – Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
  • Rajinikanth – Velaikaran
• 1988 Karthik – Agni Natchathiram
  • Kamal Haasan – Unnal Mudiyum Thambi
  • Prabhu – Agni Natchathiram
  • Sathyaraj – En Bommukutty Ammavukku
  • Vijayakanth – Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran
• 1989 Karthik – Varusham Padhinaaru
  • Bhagyaraj – Aararo Aariraro
  • Kamal Haasan – Apoorva Sagodharargal
  • Rahman – Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal
  • Ramarajan – Karakattakkaran

1990s

• 1990 Karthik – Kizhakku Vaasal
  • Kamal Haasan – Michael Madana Kama Rajan
  • Rajinikanth – Panakkaran
  • Sathyaraj – Nadigan
  • Vijayakanth – Pulan Visaranai
• 1991 Kamal Haasan – Gunaa
  • Mammootty – Azhagan
  • Murali – Idhayam
  • Prabhu – Chinna Thambi
  • Rajinikanth – Thalapathi
• 1992 Kamal Haasan – Thevar Magan
  • Arvind Swami – Roja
  • Bhagyaraj – Raasukutti
  • Rajinikanth – Annaamalai
  • Vijayakanth – Chinna Gounder
• 1993 Karthik – Ponnumani
  • Arjun Sarja – Gentleman
  • Kamal Haasan – Kalaignan
  • Rajinikanth – Uzhaippali
  • Vijayakumar – Kizhakku Cheemayile
• 1994 R. Sarathkumar – Nattamai
  • Kamal Haasan – Mahanadhi
  • Prabhu Deva – Kadhalan
  • Prabhu – Duet
  • Vijayakanth – Honest Raj
• 1995 Kamal Haasan – Kuruthipunal
  • Ajith Kumar – Aasai
  • Arvind Swami – Bombay
  • Rajinikanth – Baashha
  • Rajinikanth – Muthu
• 1996 Kamal Haasan – Indian
  • Ajith Kumar – Kadhal Kottai
  • Vijayakumar – Anthimanthaarai
  • Kamal Haasan - Avvai Shanmugi
• 1997 R. Sarathkumar – Suryavamsam
  • Prakash Raj – Iruvar
  • R. Parthiban – Bharathi Kannamma
  • Rajinikanth – Arunachalam
  • Vijay – Kadhalukku Mariyadhai
• 1998 R. Sarathkumar – Natpukkaga
  • Karthik – Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen
  • Prashanth – Jeans
• 1999 Ajith Kumar – Vaali
  • Ajith Kumar – Amarkalam
  • Arjun Sarja – Mudhalvan
  • Rajinikanth – Padayappa
  • Vikram – Sethu

2000s

• 2000 Kamal Haasan – Hey Ram
  • Ajith Kumar – Mugavaree
  • Madhavan – Alaipayuthey
  • Prashanth – Parthen Rasithen
  • Sayaji Shinde – Bharathi
• 2001 Vikram – Kasi
  • Ajith Kumar – Citizen
  • Ajith Kumar – Poovellam Un Vasam
  • Kamal Haasan – Aalavandhan
  • Suriya – Nandha
• 2002 Ajith Kumar – Villain
  • Kamal Haasan – Panchatanthiram
  • Madhavan – Kannathil Muthamittal
  • Suriya – Mounam Pesiyadhe
• 2003 Vikram – Pithamagan^[60]
  • Dhanush – Kadhal Kondein
  • Kamal Haasan – Anbe Sivam
  • Suriya – Kaakha Kaakha
• 2004 Suriya – Perazhagan
  • Kamal Haasan – Vasool Raja MBBS
  • Silambarasan – Manmadhan
  • Vijay – Ghilli
• 2005 Vikram – Anniyan
  • Jiiva – Raam
  • Sarath Kumar – Ayya
  • Suriya – Ghajini
• 2006 Ajith Kumar – Varalaru
  • Dhanush – Pudhupettai
  • Kamal Haasan – Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu
  • Narain – Chithiram Pesuthadi
• 2007 Karthi – Paruthiveeran^[61]
  • Ajith Kumar – Billa
  • Rajinikanth – Sivaji
  • Sathyaraj – Onbathu Roopai Notu
  • Vijay – Pokkiri
• 2008 Suriya – Vaaranam Aayiram
  • Dhanush – Yaaradi Nee Mohini
  • Jayam Ravi – Santosh Subramaniam
  • Kamal Haasan – Dasavathaaram
  • Narain – Anjathe
• 2009 Prakash Raj – Kanchivaram
  • Arya – Naan Kadavul
  • Jayam Ravi – Peranmai
  • Kamal Haasan – Unnaipol Oruvan
  • Suriya – Ayan

2010s

• 2010 – Vikram – Raavanan
  • Arya – Madrasapattinam
  • Karthi – Aayirathil Oruvan
  • Karthi – Paiyaa
  • Rajinikanth – Enthiran
  • Silambarasan – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
  • Suriya – Singam
• 2011 – Dhanush – Aadukalam
  • Ajith Kumar – Mankatha
  • Jiiva – Ko
  • Suriya – 7aum Arivu
  • Vikram – Deiva Thirumagal
• 2012 – Dhanush – 3
  • Suriya – Maattrraan
  • Vijay – Thuppakki
  • Vijay Sethupathi – Pizza
  • Vikram – Thandavam
• 2013 – Atharvaa – Paradesi
  • Ajith Kumar – Arrambam
  • Dhanush – Maryan
  • Kamal Haasan – Vishwaroopam
  • Kishore – Haridas
  • Suriya – Singam 2
• 2014 – Dhanush – Velaiilla Pattadhari
  • Ajith Kumar – Veeram
  • Karthi – Madras
  • Prithviraj Sukumaran – Kaaviya Thalaivan
  • Vijay – Kaththi
• 2015 – Vikram – I
  • Ajith Kumar – Yennai Arindhaal
  • Dhanush – Anegan
  • Jayam Ravi – Thani Oruvan
  • Kamal Haasan – Papanasam
• 2016 – Madhavan – Irudhi Suttru
  • Dhanush – Kodi
  • Rajinikanth – Kabali
  • Suriya – 24
  • Vijay – Theri
  • Vikram – Iru Mugan
• 2017 – Vijay Sethupathi – Vikram Vedha
  • Karthi – Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru / Thozha
  • Madhavan – Vikram Vedha
  • Rajkiran – Power Paandi
  • Vijay – Mersal
• 2018 – Dhanush – Vada Chennai and Vijay Sethupathi – 96 (tie)
  • Arvind Swami – Chekka Chivantha Vaanam
  • Jayam Ravi – Adanga Maru
  • Vijay – Sarkar

2020s

• 2020–2021 – Suriya – Soorarai Pottru
  • Arvind Swami – Thalaivi
  • Arya – Sarpatta Parambarai
  • Ashok Selvan – Oh My Kadavule
  • Dhanush – Karnan
  • Dulquer Salman – Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal
  • K. Manikandan – Jai Bhim
  • Suriya – Jai Bhim
• 2022 - Kamal Haasan - Vikram
  • Dhanush - Thiruchitrambalam
  • Karthi - Ponniyin Selvan: I
  • Vikram - Ponniyin Selvan: I
  • Silambarasan - Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu: Part I - The Kindling
  • R. Madhavan - Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
  • R. Parthiban - Iravin Nizhal
• 2023 - Vikram - Ponniyin Selvan: II
  • Siddharth - Chithha
  • Vadivelu - Maamannan
  • Sivakarthikeyan - Maaveeran
  • Soori - Viduthalai Part 1