Vijay Awards Continued..

Actor Kamal Haasan won the best comedian, best villain, best story screenplay awards and Sony Ericsson Favourite Hero award at the third UniverCell Vijay Awards 2008 ceremony held here on Saturday. Receiving the best comedian award for his role as Balram Naidu in the film Dasavatharam, he said that comedy was serious business. He dedicated the award to actors Nagesh and Vivek. Actor Manorama who along with Director K. Balachandar, presented the award, said that Mr. Haasan had worked as an assistant director, had been an assistant to dance master Thangappan and then did his character in Solla Thaan Ninaikiren.

Favourite category awards, chosen by Vijay TV viewers through the Rasigan Express that toured Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, were presented under four categories. Actor Nayantara won the Favourite Heroine award for her performance in Yaaradi Nee Mohini. Vaaranam Aayiram won the other three categories – Favourite film, Favourite director that went to Gautam Vasudev Menon and Samsung Favourite song of the year went to Anjala song.

The jury for the awards comprised Yuhi Sethu, Prathap Pothen, Madan and Lizzy Priyadarshan.
Actor Suriya won the best actor award, Simran won the Clear Best Supporting actor (female) for her performance in Vaaranam Aayiram and music director Harris Jayaraj won the Whirlpool Best Music Director award. The playback singer award was presented to Hariharan by Univercell owner Sathish Babu and his wife, and actor Vivek.

The team that created Subramaniyapuram was adjudged the best Crew . Actors Mumtaj and Venkat Prabhu presented the Best Find of the Year award to music director James Vasanthan. Sathyam Cinemas won the Best Contribution to Tamil Cinema award from actor Sivakumar, cartoonist Madhan and film producer Rama Narayanan. Other awardees included singer Bombay Jayashree, art directors Thotta Tharani, Sameer Chanda, Prabhakaran, actor Dhanush, and music composer A.R. Rahman. Yuhi Sethu, said that last year a total of 118 films were released of which only seven were hits. He also paid rich tributes to actors Nagesh and Nambiar. K. Sriram, Head, Vijay TV said that the popularity of the awards was increasing by the year. This year, the number of awards was 32.

Content - The Hindu