VI Chandanavana Film Critics Awards 2025 nominations announced
This year's awards are divided into five major segments — Debut Awards, Technical Awards, Music Awards, Acting and Writing Awards, and Jury Awards. A notable addition to this year's ceremony is the newly introduced Lifetime Achievement Hamsalekha Gold Medal, honoring outstanding contributions to the Kannada film industry.
The nominations were unveiled during a special event held in Bengaluru on Sunday evening. Popular Sandalwood stars Ajai Rao and Meghana Gaonkar were present to reveal the newly designed trophy and announce the 2025 nominations.
In the Best Actor category, the nominees include Shiva Rajkumar (Bhairati Ranagal), Kichcha Sudeep (Max), Ganesh (Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi), Srimuralli (Bhagheera), and Duniya Vijay (Bheema). Competing for Best Actress are Bindu Shivaram (Kerebete), Roshani Prakash (Murphy), Chaitra Acharya (Blink), Rukmini Vasanth (Bhagheera), and Nishvika Naidu (Karataka Damanaka).
The Best Film nominees include Bheema, Hadinelentu, Photo, Max, and Shakhahaari. In the Best Debut Actor category, contenders are Yuva Rajkumar, Samarjit Lankesh, Ajay Pruthvi, Rohit, and Rakesh Dalawayi.
Nominees for Best Music Director include Arjun Janya (Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi), Charan Raj (Bheema), B. Ajaneesh Loknath (Max), Veer Samarth (Ondu Sarala Premakathe), and V. Harikrishna (Karataka Damanaka).The Awards Night is scheduled to take place on May 11, 2025, and is expected to be a star-studded celebration of Kannada cinema. The event will be presented by Yumi Ventures as the title sponsor, with TurboSteel and Kauvery Hospitals as co-sponsors.
The Chandanavana Film Critics Academy expressed its gratitude to all sponsors, members of the media, and the Kannada film fraternity for their continued support in honouring the best of the industry.
Chandanavana Film Critics Academy Awards 2025 Nominations
Best Debut Actor (Sanchari Vijay Award):
• Yuvarajkumar (Yuva)
• Samarjeet Lankesh (Gauri)
• Ajay Prithvi (Purushottamana Prasanga)
• Rohit (Raktaksha)
• Rakesh Dalavayi (Dheera Bhagat Roy)
Best Debut Actress (Tripurambha Award)
• Ankita Amar (Ibbani Tabbida Ileyaali)
• Saanya Ayyar (Gauri)
• Sharanamma Chetti (Shivamma)
• Rishika Nayak (Purushottamana Prasanga)
• Sherlin Bhosale (Hadinelentu)
Best Debut Writer (Chi. Udaya Shankar Award)
• Sandeep Sunkad (Shakahari)
• Paramesh Gundkal (Koti)
• Jaishankar (Shivamma)
• Rajaguru B (Kerebete)
• Srinidhi Bengaluru (Blink)
Best Debut Producer (Puneeth Rajkumar Award)
• Shweta R Prasad & Vidya Gandhi Rajan (Sakhat Studio, Maryade Prashne)
• Rajesh Keelambi & Ranjini Prasanna (Shakahari)
• Ravichandran A J (Janani Picture, Blink)
• Utsav Gonwar & Fakirappa Bandivada (Photo)
• Deepa Bheemajiyani & Sudha Nambiar (Chilli Chicken)
Best Debut Direction (Shankar Nag Award)
• Jaishankar Aryar (Shivamma)
• Sandeep Sunkad (Shakahari)
• Srinidhi Bengaluru (Blink)
• Chandrajit Belliyappa (Ibbani Tabbida Ileyaali)
• Utsav Gonwar (Photo)
Best VFX
• Panda, Vijay Chandra R., Bharat Yogananda (Martin)
• Nirmal Kumar (Bagheera)
• Nirmal Kumar (UI)
• Ajay, Knock Studios (Max)
• Annapurna Studios (Bhairathi Ranagal)
Best Stunt Direction
• Chetan D'Souza (Max)
• Chetan D'Souza (Bagheera)
• Dileep Subrayaan & Chetan D'Souza (Bhairathi Ranagal)
• Kalai King Sun & Chetan D'Souza (Bheema)
• Thriller Manju, Ravi Varma & Chetan D'Souza (UI)
Best Art Direction
• Arshad Nakoth (Roopantara)
• J. Shivakumar (UI)
• J. Shivakumar (Max)
• J. Shivakumar (Bhairathi Ranagal)
• Ravi Santehaiklu (Bagheera)
Best Editing
• Akash Hiremath (Bhairathi Ranagal)
• S.R. Ganesh Babu (Max)
• Vijay Raj (UI)
• Ujwal Chandra (Shalivahana Shake)
• Jaishankar Aryar (Shivamma)
Best Dialogue Writer
• Gauri Shankar (Kerebete)
• Nagaraj Somayaji (Maryade Prashne)
• Jaishankar Aryar (Shivamma)
• Masti Upparahalli (Bheema)
• Utsav Gonwar (Photo)
Best Cinematography
• Adarsh R (Murphy)
• Arjun Shetty (Bagheera)
• Shivasena (Bheema)
• Shekhar Chandra (Max)
• Srivatsan Selvarajan (Ibbani Tabbida Ileyaali)
Best Choreographer
• Shekhar (Dwapara, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
• Bhushan (Hittalakka Kareebyada, Karataka Damanaka)
• Imran Sardariya (Troll Song, UI)
• Madan Harini (Shri Krishnam Jagat Karnam, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
• Mohan Bhajarangi (Dhool Ebbisava, Gauri)
Best Female Playback Singer
• Shrilakshmi Belmannu (Naa Ninage, Maryade Prashne)
• Shruti Prahlad (Hittalak Kareebyada, Karataka Damanaka)
• Shivani Swamy (Ella Maatanna Onde Baari, Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe)
• Indu Nagaraj (Chinnamma, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
• Shrilakshmi Belmannu (Radhe, Ibbani Tabbida Ileyaali)
Best Male Playback Singer
• Jaskaran Singh (Dwapara, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
• Sanchit Hegde (Kavite Kavite, Yuva)
• Vijay Prakash (Sanje Mele, Matinee)
• Sonu Nigam (Hey Gagana, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
• Rahul & MC Bijju (Bad Boys, Bheema)
Best Lyricist
• Dr. Nagendra Prasad (Dwapara, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
• Pramod Maravante (Kannalli Kannidu, Bagheera)
• N.R. Pradeep (Naraka Thumbi Marali Banda, Yala Kunni)
• Nagarjun Sharma (Don't Worry Baby Chinnamma, Bheema)
• Kaviraj (Ninna Hegalu, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
Best Background Score
• B. Ajaneesh Loknath (Max)
• Ravi Basrur (Bhairathi Ranagal)
• Charan Raj (Bheema)
• B. Ajaneesh Loknath (Bagheera)
• Arjun Janya (Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
Best Music Director
• Arjun Janya (Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
• Charan Raj (Bheema)
• B. Ajaneesh Loknath (Max)
• Veera Samartha (Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe)
• V. Harikrishna (Karataka Damanaka)
Best Child Actor/Actress
• Ritu Sparsha (Taekwondo Girl)
• Veeresh Gonwar (Photo)
• Mahita V (Bhairathi Ranagal)
• Vedika Kushal (My Hero)
• Preetham Koppada (Minchuhula)
Best Supporting Actress
• Rekha Kudligi (Hadinelentu)
• Priya Shatamarsan (Bheema)
• Harini Srikant (Kerebete)
• Sandhya Arkere (Photo)
• Anu Prabhakar (Bhairadevi)
Best Supporting Actor
• Gopalakrishna Deshpande (Shakahari)
• Prabhu Mundookar (Maryade Prashne)
• Rangayana Raghu (Moorane Krishnappa)
• Raj B Shetty (Roopantara)
• Prakash Raj (Bagheera)
Best Actress
• Bindu Shivaram (Kerebete)
• Roshini Prakash (Murphy)
• Chaitra Achar (Blink)
• Rukmini Vasanth (Bagheera)
• Nishvika Naidu (Karataka Damanaka)
Best Actor
• Kiccha Sudeep (Max)
• Shivarajkumar (Bhairathi Ranagal)
• Ganesh (Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi)
• Srimurali (Bagheera)
• Vijay Kumar (Bheema)
Best Screenplay
• Vijay Karthikeya (Max)
• Prithvi Konnanur & Anupama Hegde (Hadinelentu)
• Upendra (UI)
• Narthan (Bhairathi Ranagal)
• Sandeep Sunkad (Shakahari)
Best Direction
• Sandeep Sunkad (Shakahari)
• Vijay Kumar (Bheema)
• Utsav Gonwar (Photo)
• Narthan (Bhairathi Ranagal)
• Srinidhi Bengaluru (Blink)
Best Film
• Shakahari
• Photo
• Max
• Hadinelentu
• Bheema.
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