The Vanitha Film Awards are presented annually by Vanitha, an Indian magazine from the Malayala Manorama group in the south Indian state of Kerala. The awards ceremony has been instituted to honour both artistic and technical excellence in the Malayalam language film industry. Held and broadcast annually since 1998, the ceremony has gained in popularity over the years and is currently one of the most-watched award ceremonies in Kerala.
Award categories
Lifetime achievement (special award) Best Actor Best Actress Best Director Best Movie Popular Movie Popular Actor Popular Actress Special Performance (Male) Special Performance (Female) Best Supporting Actor (Male) Best Supporting Actor (Female) Best Comedian Best Villain Best Star Pair Best Newcomer Actor Best Newcomer Actress Best Lyricist Best Music Director Best Singer (Male) Best Singer (Female) Best Cinematographer Best Script Writer Best Debut Director Best Choreographer
Title sponsors Year groupNotes 2016–Present Cera Group 2010–2015 TTK Prestige 2007–2009 Nippon Paint
Channel partners Year ChannelNotes 2000–2010 Surya TV Broadcast Partner 2012 – present Mazhavil ManoramaMoved to Sister Channel
2024 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2024: Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best Film Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam Lijo Jose Pellissery Most Popular Film 2018 Jude Anthany Joseph, Venu Kunnappilly Best Actor Mammootty Kaathal – The Core, Kannur Squad and Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam Best Actress Jyothika Kaathal – The Core Most Popular Actor Tovino Thomas 2018 Most Popular Actress Anaswara Rajan Neru Best Supporting Actor Jagadish Falimy Best Supporting Actress Manju Pillai Best Villain Siddique Neru Best Star Pair Shane Nigam and Mahima Nambiar RDX
2023 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2023 Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best FilmNna Thaan Case KoduRatheesh Balakrishna Poduwal Best ActorKunchacko BobanNna Thaan Case Kodu Best Actress Darshana Rajendran Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey
2022 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2022 Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best FilmNayattuMartin Prakkattu Best ActorJayasuryaVellam Best Actress Nimisha Sajayan The Great Indian Kitchen
2021 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2021 Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best FilmAyyappanum KoshiyumSachy Best ActorPrithviraj Sukumaran and Biju MenonAyyappanum Koshiyum Best Actress Shobana Varane Avashyamund
2020 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2020: Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best Film Kumbalangi Nights Madhu C. Narayanan Most Popular Film Lucifer Prithviraj Sukumaran Best Actor Mohanlal Lucifer, Ittymaani: Made in China Best Actress Manju Warrier Prathi Poovankozhi, Lucifer Most Popular Actor Asif Ali Kettyolaanu Ente Malakha Most Popular Actress Parvathy Thiruvothu Uyare Best Supporting Actor Soubin Shahir Kumbalangi Nights, Virus Best Supporting Actress Anusree Prathi Poovankozhi Best Newcomer Actor Mathew Thomas Thanneer Mathan Dinangal and Kumbalangi Nights Best Newcomer Actress Anna Ben Kumbalangi Nights Special Performance (Actor) Suraj Venjaramoodu Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 ,Driving License Special Performance (Actress) Mamta Mohandas Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakeel Best Comedian Saiju Kurup Android Kunjappan Version 5.25, Driving License ,Prathi Poovankozhi Best Villain Vivek Oberoi Lucifer Best Star Pair Shane Nigam and Anna Ben Kumbalangi Nights Best Family Hero Jayaram Panchavarnathatha Best Character Actor Siddique Uyare Best Character Actress Nyla Usha Porinju Mariam JoseBest Social Responsible MovieVirusAashiq AbuBest Social Responsible ActorKunchacko BobanVirusBest Social Responsible ActressRima KallingalGraceful PerformerNivin PaulyLove Action Drama, Moothon Technical Awards Best Director Prithviraj Sukumaran Lucifer Best Script Writer Shyam Pushkaran Kumbalangi Nights Best Cinematographer Gireesh Gangadharan Jellikatu Best Debut Director Manu Ashokan Uyare Best Choreographer Brinda Mamankam Musical Awards Best Singer (Male) Vijay Yesudas 'Nee Mukilo'; Uyare Best Singer (Female) Shreya Ghoshal 'Mukkuthi'; Mamankam Best Music Director P S Jayhari Athiran Best Lyricist B.K.Harinarayanan Luca, Edakkadu Bettalion, Madhura Raja Special Award Lifetime Achievement Award Sarada Being best actress in 1960's-80's.
2019 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2019: Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best Film Ee.Ma.Yau. Lijo Jose Pellissery Most Popular Film Njan Prakashan Sathyan Anthikad Best Actor Mohanlal Odiyan Best Actress Manju Warrier Odiyan, Aami Most Popular Actor Tovino Thomas Oru Kuprasidha Payyan, Ente Ummante Peru Most Popular Actress Aishwarya Lekshmi Varathan Best Supporting Actor Siddique Odiyan, Aanakkallan Best Supporting Actress Muthumani Uncle Best Newcomer Actor Kalidas Jayaram Poomaram Best Newcomer Actress Saniya Iyappan Queen Special Performance (Actor) Joju George Joseph Special Performance (Actress) Urvashi Ente Ummante Peru, Aravindante Athidhikal Best Comedian Hareesh Perumanna Oru Pazhaya Bomb Kadha, Aanakkallan Best Villain Sunny Wayne Kayamkulam Kochunni Best Star Pair Vineeth Sreenivasan and Nikhila Vimal Aravindante Athidhikal Best Family Hero Jayaram Panchavarnathatha Best Tamil Actor Dhanush Vada Chennai Best Tamil Actress Trisha 96 Technical Awards Best Director Lijo Jose Pellissery Ee.Ma.Yau. Best Script Writer Shahi Kabir Joseph Best Cinematographer Shyju Khalid Sudani from Nigeria Best Debut Director Zakariya Mohammed Best Choreographer Dinesh Oru Pazhaya Bomb Kadha Musical Awards Best Singer (Male) Vijay Yesudas 'Poomuthole'; Joseph Best Singer (Female) Shreya Ghoshal 'Manam Thudukkanu'; Odiyan Best Music Director M. Jayachandran Odiyan Best Lyricist Rafeeq Ahammed Best Duet Song Sudeep Kumar and Shreya Ghoshal 'Kondoram'; Odiyan Special Award Lifetime Achievement Award Balachandra Menon Being best actor in 1990s.
2018 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2018: Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best Film Take Off Mahesh Narayanan Most Popular Film Udaharanam Sujatha Phantom Praveen Best Actor Fahadh Faasil, Suraj Venjarammoodu Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Best Actress Parvathy Take Off Manju Warrier Udaharanam Sujatha Most Popular Actor Dulquer Salmaan Parava, Solo Best Supporting Actor Suraj Venjaramoodu Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Best Supporting Actress Shanthi Krishna Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela Best Newcomer Actor Appani Sarath Velipadinte Pusthakam Best Newcomer Actress Nimisha Sajayan Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Special Performance (Actor) Jayasurya Aadu 2 Special Performance (Actress) Anu Sithara Ramante Eden Thottam Best Comedian Hareesh Perumanna Various Best Villain Vijayaraghavan Ramaleela, Punyalan Private limited Best Star Pair Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali Sunday Holiday Best Romantic Hero Tovino Thomas Mayaanadhi Best Romantic Heroine Aishwarya Lekshmi Best Family Hero Kunchacko Boban Ramante Eden Thottam, Take Off Technical Awards Best Director Dileesh Pothan Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Best Script Writer Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair Mayaanadhi Best Debut Director Soubin Shahir Parava Best Choreographer Prasanna Sujit Musical Awards Best Singer (Male) Vijay Yesudas 'Kattilila Polengo'; Udaharanam Sujatha Best Singer (Female) Shweta Mohan 'Oru Puzhayarikil'; Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol Best Music Director Shaan Rahman Velipadinte Pusthakam Best Lyricist Hari Narayanan Adam Joan Special Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Seema Actress
2017 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2017: Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best Film Maheshinte Prathikaaram Dileesh Pothan Most Popular Film Pulimurugan Vysakh Best Movie on Social Awareness Action Hero Biju Abrid Shine Best Actor Mohanlal Oppam, Pulimurugan Best Actress Manju Warrier Karinkunnam 6'S Most Popular Actor Nivin Pauly Action Hero Biju, Jacobinte Swargarajyam Most Popular Actress Anusree Oppam, Maheshinte Prathikaaram, Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho Best Supporting Actor Siddique Kattappanayile Hrithik Roshan, Annmariya Kalippilaanu Best Supporting Actress Rohini Action Hero Biju, Guppy Best Newcomer Actor Vishnu Unnikrishnan Kattappanayile Hrithik Roshan Best Newcomer Actress Aparna Balamurali Maheshinte Prathikaaram Special Performance (Actor) Vinayakan Kammatipaadam Special Performance (Actress) Asha Sarath Paavada, Anuraga Karikkin Vellam Best Comedian Dharmajan Bolgatty Kattappanayile Hrithik Roshan Best Villain Chemban Vinod Jose Kali Best Star Pair Asif Ali and Rajisha Vijayan Anuraga Karikkin Vellam Technical Awards Best Director Rajeev Ravi Kammatipaadam Best Script Writer P. Balachandran Best Cinematographer Shyju Khalid Maheshinte Prathikaaram Best Debut Director Khalid Rahman Anuraga Karikkin Vellam Best Choreographer Kala Oppam Musical Awards Best Singer (Male) M. G. Sreekumar 'Chinnamma'; Oppam Best Singer (Female) Vani Jayaram 'Maanathe Maari'; Pulimurugan Best Music Composer Bijibal Maheshinte Prathikaaram Best Lyricist Santosh Varma Action Hero Biju Special Award Lifetime Achievement Award K. G. George Director
2016 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2016: Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best Film Ennu Ninte Moideen R. S. Vimal Most Popular Film Premam Alphonse Putharen Best Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran Ennu Ninte Moideen Best Actress Parvathy Most Popular Actor Nivin Pauly Premam Most Popular Actress Namitha Pramod Chandrettan Evideya, Amar Akbar Anthony, Adi Kapyare Kootamani Best Supporting Actor Chemban Vinod Jose Oru Second Class Yathra, Charlie Best Supporting Actress Lena Ennu Ninte Moideen Best Newcomer Actor Krishna Shankar, Sharaf U Dheen and Shabareesh Varma Premam Best Newcomer Actress Sai Pallavi Special Performance (Actor) Jayasurya Su Su Sudhi Vathmeekam Special Performance (Actress) Rima Kallingal Rani Padmini Best Comedian Aju Varghese Oru Vadakkan Selfie, Two Countries Best Villain Nedumudi Venu Oru Second Class Yathra Best Star Pair Dileep and Mamta Mohandas Two Countries Technical Awards Best Director R. S. Vimal Ennu Ninte Moideen Best Script Writer Salim Ahamed Pathemari Best Cinematographer Jomon T. John Ennu Ninte Moideen, Charlie Best Debut Director John Varghese Adi Kapyare Kootamani Best Choreographer Dinesh Amar Akbar Anthony Musical Awards Best Singer (Male) Vijay Yesudas Premam Best Singer (Female) Vaikom Vijayalakshmi Oru Vadakkan Selfie Best Music Director Rajesh Murugesan Premam Best Lyricist Rafeeq Ahammed Ennu Ninte Moideen Special Award Lifetime Achievement Award K. P. A. C. Lalitha Actress
2015 The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2015: Category Winner Film/ Director Merit Awards Best Film 1983 Abrid Shine Best Actor Mammootty Varsham Best Actress Manju Warrier How Old Are You? Most Popular Actor Nivin Pauly 1983 Most Popular Actress Nazriya Nazim Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, Bangalore Days Best Supporting Actor Anoop Menon Vikramadithyan Best Supporting Actress Srinda Ashab 1983 Best Newcomer Actor Farhaan Faasil Njan Steve Lopez Best Newcomer Actress Nikki Galrani 1983 Best Comedian Aju Varghese Vellimoonga Best Villain Jayasurya Iyobinte Pusthakam Best Star Pair Unni Mukundan and Namitha Pramod Vikramadithyan Technical Awards Best Screenplay Bobby–Sanjay How Old Are You? Best Cinematographer Amal Neerad Iyobinte Pusthakam Musical Awards Best Singer (Male) Vineeth Sreenivasan "Kaattumooliyo"; Ohm Shanthi Oshaana Best Singer (Female) Shreya Ghoshal "Vijanathayil"; How Old Are You? Best Music Director M. Jayachandran Odiyan Best Lyricist Hari Narayanan 1983 Popular Song of the Year Gopi Sundar "Mangalyam Thanthunanena"; Bangalore Days Special Award Lifetime Achievement Award I. V. Sasi Director
2014