The International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) 2024 launched spectacularly at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Friday, September 27, uniting prominent figures from the Indian film industry. This three-day event is set to be a dazzling celebration of the best in Indian cinema, encompassing various languages and genres.

The festivities commenced with IIFA Utsavam 2024, a distinguished event honouring exceptional talent from the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada film industries. Hosted by stars like Rana Daggubati and Teja Sajja, the evening showcased major industry talents receiving prestigious accolades. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan won the Best Actress award for her remarkable performance in Ponniyin Selvan: II, while Mani Ratnam was recognised as Best Director for the same film. Other notable winners included Dhanush, who took home Best Actor for his role in Vaathi, and Sai Pallavi, awarded Best Actress for her work in Gargi.

Winners from IIFA Utsavam 2024:

Tamil:

  • Best Picture: Jailer
  • Best Actor: Vikram (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
  • Best Actress: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
  • Best Director: Mani Ratnam (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
  • Best Music Direction: AR Rahman (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
  • Best Performance in a Negative Role: SJ Suryah (Mark Antony)
  • Best Supporting Role (Male): Jayaram (Ponniyin Selvan: II)
  • Best Supporting Role (Female): Sahasra Shree (Chithha)

Telugu:

  • Best Actor: Nani (Dasara)
  • Best Performance in a Negative Role: Shine Tom Chacko (Dasara)

Malayalam:

  • Best Performance in a Negative Role: Arjun Radhakrishnan (Kannur Squad)

Kannada:

  • Outstanding Excellence in Kannada Cinema: Rishab Shetty
  • Best Debut (Female): Aradhana Ram (Kaatera)

Special Awards:

  • Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema: Chiranjeevi
  • Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema: Priyadarshan
  • Woman of the Year in Indian Cinema: Samantha Ruth Prabhu
  • Golden Legacy Award: Nandamuri Balakrishna

The upcoming two days of IIFA are poised to be a magnificent showcase of Indian cinema, featuring mesmerizing performances and glamorous red-carpet moments. Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Vicky Kaushal will take the helm as hosts, infusing the event with their trademark humour and charm. Fans are especially excited for Rekha’s anticipated performance, which is expected to steal the spotlight.

The grand finale, IIFA Rocks, will conclude this year’s ceremony with a concert featuring some of the biggest names in Indian music, promising an unforgettable night of entertainment.