Contenders for SIIMA top honours

The stage has been set for the first edition of SIIMA, which will be held on June 21 and 22 at the Dubai Trade Centre.

The best of films from Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam compete with one another for the top honors.

The contenders for the Best Tamil Film of 2011 are: Ko, Aadukalam, Azhagarsamyin Kuthirai, Mayakkam Enna and Engeyum Eppodhum.

The nominees for the Best Actor category in Tamil are: Dhanush for Aadukulam, Vishal for Avan Ivan, Vikram for Deivathirumagal, Suriya for 7aum Arivu and Ajith for Mankatha.

In the best Actress category (Tamil), the nominees are Anushka Shetty for Deivathirumagal, Anjali for Engeyum Eppodhum, Richa Gangopadhyay for Mayakkam Enna, Hansika for Engeyum Kadhal and Asin for Kaavalan.

Apart from the 19 categories in the awards section, there is also the GenNext Awards category for promising up-and-coming film-makers.

The organizers of SIIMA say their objective is to promote South India cinema across the globe. Though the South Indian industry accounts for the largest number of film released in India, the revenue generated overseas by a South Indian film is only 10 per cent of what a Bollywood movie earns. Like IIFA for Bollywood movies SIIMA will promote South India cinema. The venue of SIIMA celebration will change every year.