NEWS – The Karnataka State Film Awards 2021 celebrated excellence in Kannada cinema, honoring films, actors, technicians, and musicians across multiple categories.

HIGHLIGHTS

Best Film & Popular Recognition

• Best Film: Doddahatti Boregowda (Director: Raghu K M) – HLN Simha Award with gold medal + ₹1 lakh.
• Second Best Film: 777 Charlie (Director: Kiranraj K).
• Third Best Film: Bisilu Kudure.
• Best Popular Film: Yuvarathnaa (starring late Puneeth Rajkumar).
• Film with Special Social Concerns: Bharata Prajegalada Naavu.
• Best Regional Language Film: Nada Peda Asha (Kodava language).
• Best Debut Film by a Director: Badava Rascal (Director: Shankar H, Silver Medal + ₹50,000).

Acting Awards

• Best Actor: Rakshit Shetty (777 Charlie).
• Best Actress: Archana Jois (Mute).
• Best Supporting Actor: Pramod (Rathnana Prapancha).
• Best Supporting Actress: Umashree (Rathnana Prapancha).
• Best Child Actor: Master Athish Shetty (Cake).
• Best Child Actress: Baby Bhairavi (Bhairavi).

Technical & Creative Awards

• Best Script & Director (Film): Raghu K M (Doddahatti Boregowda).
• Best Dialogue: Baraguru Ramachandrappa (Thayi Kastur Gandhi).
• Best Story: Manjunath Muniyappa (9 Sullu Kathegalu).
• Best Photography: Bhuvanesh Prabhu (Amma Samsara, Konkani).
• Best Music Direction: Imtiyaz Sultan (Bisilu Kudure).
• Best Editing: Prateek Shetty (777 Charlie).
• Best Art Direction: Ravi Santehaklu (Bhajarangi-2).
• Best Lyricist: Nagarjuna Sharma (777 Charlie – song: Madilinalli Kadalinashtu Hanigaliddaru).

 Music Awards

• Best Male Playback Singer: Aneesh Keshava Rao (Sri Jagannatha Dasaru – song: Ramadootana Pada).
• Best Female Playback Singer: Sahana M Bharadwaj (Dandi – song: Mugile Maataadu).

Special Jury Awards

• Special Film Award: Bhairavi.
• Costume Design: Yogi Raju (Bhajarangi-2).
• Make-up: Shivakumar (Thayi Kastur Gandhi).