TN Government grants
subsidy to 17 films
Out of the 26 applications received from producers, 17 Tamil films produced at low cost and having good themes were selected by the state government for paym,ent of subsidy. The government released Rs 85 lakhs for these 17 films released in 1999. A government press release stated that 85 films were released in 1999 out of which 26 had applied for subsidy. The SIFCC president Kayaar thanked the government for the prompt action and the help and the support by Chief minister to Tamil filmdom. Ibrahim Rowther said that the financial help was like a silver medal to those producers who had produced films with low budgets but with high subject values.

Rajnikant named best actor, Kamal Hassan gets Sivaji Ganesan award
Rajnikant has been adjuged the best actor of 1999 for his performance in Padaippa, which has also been declared the best film of the year, while Kamal Hassan has been bestowed with the Nadigar Thilakam Sivaji Ganesan award. The awards were selected by a committee headed by justice P Bhaskaranthe. In addition to the above three awards, the following were declared the winners in other categories:

Best actress: Simran (Thullatha Manam Thullum); best actor (special prize): Vikram for Sethu; special award for best actress: Ramya Krishnan for Padaippa; best villian: Raghuvaran (Muthalvan and Iraniyan); best comedian: Vivek (Unnn Arugai Naan Irunthuaal); best director: Bala (Sethu); best music director: AR Rahman; best lyricist: Vairamuthu (Sangamam); best male singer: Srinivas (Padaippa); best female playback singer: S Janaki (Sangamam); best cinematographer: Illvarasu (Manam Virumbuthey Unnay); best art director: Krishnamoorthi (Sangamam); best action director: Dinesh (Rojavanam); best editor: Ravi (Minsara Kanna); best costume designer: Renuka Vasanth; best choreographer: Lawrence (Kannupattu Pokathayya); best make-up: Sundaramoorthi (Padaiappa); best child artiste: Master Vikki (Oruvan); second best film: Thullatha Manam Thullum (Super good films); third best film: Ethirum Puthirum and special award for best film: Sethu; and the film which projected woman in a good manner is Ananda Poongatre.
Every year, the government of Tamil Nadu honours film personalities with awards named after veterans. This year J Mahendran has been nominated for Arignar Anna award, Kaka Radhakrishnan for Kalaivanar award, director Sankar for Raja Sandow award, actor Vijay for MGR award and actor-director S S Rajinder for Thiagaraja Bhagavathar award. The awards will be presented in Chennai on January 12.

Beauty pageant filmed for Virumbikarean
Aditi Gowitrikar, Nikar (actor in Khajuraho), John Abraham and seven models from Chennai took part in the beauty pageant and fashion show held in the Taj Chennai. Prasanth was the compere and host of the evening. This was filmed as part of the shooting of Virumbikarean, the film directed by Susi Ganesan, associatate to Mani Rathnam.

Ayyappa Prasad