The South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2025 took place in Dubai on Saturday, celebrating the best of Tamil and Malayalam cinema. The event was filled with memorable moments, including actress Sai Pallavi's respectful gesture towards veteran actor Kamal Haasan.
Videos circulating online show Sai Pallavi approaching Kamal Haasan and touching his feet in a mark of respect. This traditional gesture, often seen in South India, reflects deep admiration and reverence for elders and respected figures. The moment was captured by many and has since gone viral, with fans praising Sai Pallavi's humility and Kamal Haasan's gracious response.
The SIIMA 2025 awards recognized talent from across the Tamil and Malayalam film industries. Amaran was the big winner in the Tamil category, securing the Best Film award, with Rajkumar Periasamy winning Best Director. Sai Pallavi won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) for her performance in Amaran. Anurag Kashyap won Best Actor in a Negative Role for Maharaja, while Bala Saravanan won Best Actor in a Comedy Role for Lubber Pandhu.
In the Malayalam section, Manjummel Boys was named Best Film. Blessy won Best Director for Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life, and Prithviraj Sukumaran won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) for the same film. Urvashi was recognized as Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) for Ullozhukku.
Several other awards were presented, including Critics' Choice Awards for both Tamil and Malayalam cinema. Karthi (Meiyazhagan) and Dushara (Raayan) were named Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) and Female (Critics' Choice) respectively. Harish Kalyan received the Special Rising Star award for Lubber Pandhu. Veteran actor Sivakumar was honored with a Special Award for his contribution to cinema, and Trisha was felicitated for her 25 years in South Indian Cinema.
The SIIMA Awards 2025 not only celebrated cinematic achievements but also provided heartwarming moments like Sai Pallavi's gesture towards Kamal Haasan, highlighting the importance of respect and tradition within the South Indian film fraternity.
