Vanitha Film Awards
Awarded for	Artistic and technical excellence in Malayalam cinema
Country	India
Presented by	Vanitha
First awarded	1998 (1998)
Last awarded	Present
Television/radio coverage
Network	Surya TV (till 2011) Mazhavil Manorama

The Vanitha Film Awards are presented annually by Vanitha, an Indian magazine from the Malayala Manorama group in the south Indian state of Kerala.^[1] 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.^[2]

Most awards to a single film

Film	Wins	Nominations
Odiyan (2019) Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015)	7	—
Kumbalangi Nights (2020) Premam (2016) Pranchiyettan & the Saint (2011)	6	—
Lucifer (2020) Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2017) 1983 (2014) Pazhassi Raja (2010)	5	—
Uyare (2020) Virus (2020) Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2018) Amen (2014) Thattathin Marayathu (2013) Salt N' Pepper (2012)	4	—

Year	group	Notes
2016–Present	Cera Group
2010–2015	TTK Prestige
2007–2009	Nippon Paint

Year	Channel	Notes
2000–2010	Surya TV	Broadcast Partner
2012 – present	Mazhavil Manorama	Moved to Sister Channel

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2024:^[3][4]

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

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2023

Category	Winner	Film/ Director
Merit Awards
Best Film	Nna Thaan Case Kodu	Ratheesh Balakrishna Poduwal
Best Actor	Kunchacko Boban	Nna Thaan Case Kodu
Best Actress	Darshana Rajendran	Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2022

Category	Winner	Film/ Director
Merit Awards
Best Film	Nayattu	Martin Prakkattu
Best Actor	Jayasurya	Vellam
Best Actress	Nimisha Sajayan	The Great Indian Kitchen

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2021

Category	Winner	Film/ Director
Merit Awards
Best Film	Ayyappanum Koshiyum	Sachy
Best Actor	Prithviraj Sukumaran and Biju Menon	Ayyappanum Koshiyum
Best Actress	Shobana	Varane Avashyamund

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2020:^[5]

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 Jose
Best Social Responsible Movie	Virus	Aashiq Abu
Best Social Responsible Actor	Kunchacko Boban	Virus
Best Social Responsible Actress	Rima Kallingal
Graceful Performer	Nivin Pauly	Love 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.

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2019:^[6]

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 Kumar	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.

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

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2017:^{[7][better source needed]}

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

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2016:^{[8][better source needed]}

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 Kumar	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

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2015:^{[9][better source needed]}

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

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2014:

Category	Winner	Film/ Director
Merit Awards
Best Film	Drishyam	Jeethu Joseph
Most Popular Film	Amen	Lijo Jose Pellissery
Best Actor	Prithviraj Sukumaran	Celluloid, Mumbai Police
Best Actress	Shobana	Thira
Best Supporting Actor	Indrajith Sukumaran	Amen
Best Supporting Actress	Bindu Panicker	Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum
Best Newcomer Actor	Sanoop Santhosh	Philips and the Monkey Pen
Best Newcomer Actress	Aparna Gopinath	ABCD
Most Popular Actor	Dileep	Sound Thoma, Sringaravelan
Most Popular Actress	Amala Paul	Oru Indian Pranayakadha
Best Comedian	Shammi Thilakan	Neram, Sringaravelan
Best Villain	Kalabhavan Shajohn	Drishyam
Technical Awards
Best Director	Jeethu Joseph	Drishyam
Best Script Writer	Joy Mathew	Shutter
Best Cinematographer	Madhu Neelakandan	Annayum Rasoolum
Musical Awards
Best Singer (Male)	Shahabaz Aman	"Kayalinarike"; Annayum Rasoolum
Best Singer (Female)	Mridula Warrier	"Lalee lalee"; Kalimannu
Best Music Director	Prashant Pillai	Amen
Best Lyricist	Kavalam Narayana Panicker
Special Award
Lifetime Achievement Award	Innocent	Actor

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2013:

Category	Winner	Film/ Director
Merit Awards
Best Film	Ustad Hotel	Anwar Rasheed
Best Actor	Fahadh Faasil	Diamond Necklace, 22 Female Kottayam
Best Actress	Rima Kallingal	22 Female Kottayam
Best Supporting Actor	Prathap Pothan	Ayalum Njanum Thammil
Best Supporting Actress	Kanika	Bavuttiyude Namathil
Best Newcomer Actress	Isha Talwar	Thattathin Marayathu
Best Comedian	Baburaj	Mayamohini
Best Villain	Murali Gopy	Ee Adutha Kaalathu, Thappana
Best Pair	Dulquer Salmaan & Nithya Menen	Ustad Hotel
Technical Awards
Best Director	Lal Jose	Ayalum Njanum Thammil, Diamond Necklace
Best Script Writer	Anjali Menon	Ustad Hotel
Best Cinematographer	Shyju Khalid	22 Female Kottayam
Musical Awards
Best Singer (Male)	Nivas	"Nilamalare"; Diamond Necklace
Best Singer (Female)	Remya Nambeesan	'Muthuchippi'; Thattathin Marayathu
Best Music Director	Shaan Rahman	Thattathin Marayathu
Best Lyricist	Rafeeq Ahammed	Spirit, Diamond Necklace
Special Award
Lifetime Achievement Award	Nedumudi Venu	Actor

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2012:

Category	Winner	Film/ Director
Merit Awards
Best Film	Indian Rupee	Ranjith
Best Actor	Mohanlal	Pranayam
Best Actress	Kavya Madhavan	Khaddama
Best Supporting Actor	Anoop Menon	Beautiful
Best Supporting Actress	Remya Nambeesan	Chaappa Kurishu
Best Newcomer Actor	Unni Mukundan	Bombay March 12
Best Newcomer Actress	Karthika Nair	Makaramanju
Best Comedian	Baburaj	Salt N' Pepper
Best Villain	Vijayaraghavan	Venicile Vyapari
Best Star Pair	Lal and Shwetha Menon	Salt N' Pepper
Technical Awards
Best Director	Aashiq Abu	Salt N' Pepper
Best Cinematographer	Jomon T. John	Beautiful
Musical Awards
Best Singer (Male)	Vijay Yesudas	"Ee Puzhayum"; Indian Rupee
Best Singer (Female)	Manjari	"Chimmi Chimmi"; Urumi
Best Music Director	Bijibal	Salt N' Pepper
Best Lyricist	O. N. V. Kurup	Pranayam
Special Award
Lifetime Achievement Award	Sheela	Actress

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2011:

Category	Winner	Film/ Director
Merit Awards
Best Film	Pranchiyettan & the Saint	Ranjith
Most Popular Film
Best Actor	Mammootty	Pranchiyettan & the Saint
Best Actress	Mamta Mohandas	Kadha Thudarunnu
Best Supporting Actor	Biju Menon	Marykkundoru Kunjaadu
Best Supporting Actress	Mithra Kurian	Bodyguard
Best Newcomer Actress	Ann Augustine	Elsamma Enna Aankutty
Best Comedian	Salim Kumar	Best Actor, Marykkundoru Kunjaadu
Best Villain	Siddique, Manoj K.Jayan	Pokkiri Raja, Drona 2010
Best Star Pair	Kunchacko Boban and Archana Kavi	Mummy & Me
Technical Awards
Best Director	Ranjith	Pranchiyettan & the Saint
Best Script Writer
Best Cinematographer	Venu
Musical Awards
Best Singer (Male)	Yesudas	"Pinne Ennodonnum"; Shikkar
Best Singer (Female)	Shreya Ghoshal	"Kizhakku Pookkum"; Anwar
Best Music Director	Gopi Sunder	Anwar
Best Lyricist	Rafeeq Ahammed
Special Award
Lifetime Achievement Award	Jagathy Sreekumar	Actor

The following are the list of the winners of Vanitha Film Awards 2010:

Category	Winner	Film/ Director
Merit Awards
Best Film	Pazhassi Raja	Hariharan
Best Actor	Mammootty	Pazhassi Raja, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha, Loudspeaker
Best Actress	Padmapriya	Pazhassi Raja
Most Popular Actor	Mohanlal	Bhramaram, Evidam Swargamanu
Best Supporting Actor	R. Sarathkumar	Pazhassi Raja
Best Supporting Actress	Shwetha Menon	Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha
Best Newcomer Actor	Kailash	Neelathamara
Best Newcomer Actress	Rima Kallingal	Ritu
Best Comedian	Suraj Venjaramoodu	Chattambinadu
Best Villain	Siddique
Technical Awards
Best Director	Ranjith	Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha
Best Script Writer	James Albert	Evidam Swargamanu
Best Cinematographer	Ajayan Vincent	Bhramaram
Musical Awards
Best Singer (Male)	Yesudas	Pazhassi Raja
Best Singer (Female)	K.S.Chitra
Best Lyricist	Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma	Neelathamara, Chattambinadu
Best Song	Vidyasagar	"Anuragavilochithanayi"; Neelathamara
Special Award
Lifetime Achievement Award	Madhu	Actor

Most frequent winners

Artist	Wins
Mohanlal	10
Manju Warrier Shreya Ghoshal Vijay Yesudas	5
Mammootty Dulquer Salmaan Nivin Pauly Siddique Parvathy Thiruvothu	4
Jayasurya Suraj Venjaramoodu Kavya Madhavan Meera Jasmine Rafeeq Ahammed Ranjith K. J. Yesudas K. S. Chithra	3