Malayalam actor Dulquer Salman’s searing gangster drama, Kammatipaadam, and actress Nayantara, who took home two awards in the Best Actress category in Tamil and Malayalam, shone bright at the sixth edition of the South Indian International Movie Awards 2017 held in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Director Rajeev Ravi who presented Mammootty’s son as a small-time criminal Krishnan took home the Best Film award, while Nayantara enjoyed a double whammy for her performances as the rape survivor in the Malayalam drama Puthiya Niyamam, and for her role in Tamil sci-fi thriller Iru Mugan.
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, won the best actor (popular), but he was absent at the awards presentation.
Actress Trisha won the Best Actor in a negative role for her performance in the Dhanush-led Kodi, while actors Nivin Pauly and Madhavan took home the Best Actor (Critics pick) for Action Hero Biju and sports drama Irudhi. Tamil actor Shiva Kartikeyan was a happy man as he walked away with the best actor award for his romantic comedy Remo.
But what’s an awards ceremony without some dance and some impromptu drama? Bollywood stars, Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor, who attended the second night of SIIMAs after leading a press junket for their fantasy adventure Jagga Jassoos in the capital, spun their own version of a lungi dance. Kapoor made sure that he donned the yards of cotton cloth and prompted the South Indian gang of actors — including Rana Duggabatti and Nivin Pauly, to shake a leg along with Kaif. Singer Usha Uthup returned the favour by singing a song from Ranbir Kapoor’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
The UAE-set Malayalam blockbuster, Jacobinte Swargarajyam, that chronicled the tale of a businessman’s family and their rise from ruins, was also a winner at this year’s SIIMAs. Actress Lakshmi Ramki won the Best Supporting Actor (Malayalam). UAE-resident and actress Asha Sharath also didn’t return home empty-handed. She won the Best Supporting Actress (critics).
But the endearing moment arrived when a photo of Kapoor greeting actress Khushboo Sunder made its way to Twitter.
Actress Khushboo tweeted with the emoticons of hearts: “Thank you so much #RanbirKapoor for being part of #SIIMA, you are such an amazing actor.”
Earlier in the day, Kapoor had lauded South Indian cinema for its progressive content.
“I love world cinema and I have seen films from South India that are brilliant and moving,” said Kapoor.
