Chandanavana Film Critics Academy announces nominations for 6th Chandanavana Film Critics Awards

BENGALURU: The Chandanavana Film Critics Academy has announced the nominations for the VI Chandanavana Film Critics Awards 2025. Over 50 Kannada film journalists participated in the voting process to select the best Kannada films released in 2024, across 29 diverse categories.

This year, the awards are divided into five major segments — Debut Awards, Technical Awards, Music Awards, Acting & Writing Awards, and Jury Awards. Notably, the Jury Awards category includes a new honour — the Lifetime Achievement Hamsalekha Gold Medal, introduced this year.

At a special event held in Bengaluru on Sunday evening, Sandalwood stars Ajai Rao and Meghana Gaonkar unveiled the newly designed trophy and announced the nominations for the 2025 awards.

Among the nominees for Best Actor are: Shivarajkumar (Bhairati Ranagal), Kichcha Sudeep (Max), Ganesh (Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi), Srimuralli (Bhagheera) and Duniya Vijay (Bheema). Competing for Best Film are: ‘Bheema’, ‘Hadinelentu’, ‘Photo’, ‘Max’ and ‘Shakhahaari’.

Nominees for Best Actress include: Bindu Shivaram (Kerebete), Roshani Prakash (Murphy), Chaitra Acharya (Blink), Rukmini Vasanth (Bhagheera) and Nishvika Naidu (Karataka Damanaka).

In the Debut Awards category, the contenders for Best Debut Actor are: Yuva Rajkumar, Samarjit Lankesh, Ajay Pruthvi, Rohit and Rakesh Dalawayi.

For Best Music Director, the nominees are: Arjun Janya (Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi), Charan Raj (Bheema), B Ajaneesh Loknath (Max), Veer Samarth (Ondu Sarala Premakathe) and V Harikrishna (Karataka Damanaka)

The awards night will take place on May 11, 2025. Yumi Ventures is the title sponsor for this year’s event, with TurboSteel and Kauvery Hospitals being co-sponsors.