IIFA packed in a lot of entertainment over its three-day weekend course.

From fashion, awards and performances, there was a lot of dhamaka on stage in Abu Dhabi.

But picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost!

Here’s some sizzle from the IIFA Utsavam night, which was dedicated to the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada film industries.

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Raashii Khanna puts in a performance.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Pragya Jaiswal has been very patient, but now is the time for her to shine.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Aradhanaa Ram wins the Best Debut performance award for her work in the Kannada film, Kaatera.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Regina Cassandra flashes a winning smile.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Prabhudeva gets animated on stage.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Venkatesh Daggubati and Devi Sri Prasad‘s dance stand-off.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Ponniyin Selvan: II was a big winner of the night. It won the Best Actor (Tamil) award for Vikram, Best Actress (Tamil) award for Aishwarya Rai, Best Director (Tamil) award for Mani Ratnam and Best Music Direction (Tamil) award for A R Rahman.

Aishwarya’s biggest cheerleader, her daughter Aaradhya, joins her.

If you’re wondering who’s the lady next to Rahman, that’s Mrunal Thakur.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Here’s Vikram with his award.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Mani Ratnam takes a bow.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Jayaram, seen here taking a selfie, wins the Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Tamil) award for Ponniyin Selvan: II.

Chiranjeevi was presented the Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Rakul Singh with Samantha, who won the Woman of the Year in Indian Cinema award.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Ponniyin Selvan: II may have won the top awards but it lost the Best Picture award to Rajinikanth’s Jailer.

Director Nelson Dilipkumar accepts the award from Ananya Panday and Rana Daggubati.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Sahasra Shree wins the award for Supporting Role (Female) for the Tamil movie Chithha, Regina gives away the award.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Rukmini Vasanth won the Best Performance in a Leading Role (Female) award for the Kannada film, Sapta Saagaradaache Ello- Side A. The film is among 2023’s best films from down south.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Rakshit Shetty won the Best Performance in a Leading Role (Male) for Sapta Saagaradaache Ello- Side A.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Tharun Kishore Sudhir won the Best Director (Kannada) Award for the movie Kaatera.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Rishab Shetty receives the Outstanding Excellence in Kannada Cinema award.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Jagapathi Babu won the award for his Performance in a Negative Role Kannada award for Kaatera.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Mrunal Thakur won the Best Performance in a Leading Role (Female) for the Telugu film, Hi Nanna.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Her co-star in the film Nani won the Best Performance in a leading role (Male) for his other Telugu film, Dasara.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar receives the award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Female) for the Telugu movie Veera Simha Reddy.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Brahmanandam won the award for Best Supporting Role (Male) for the Telugu film Ranga Maarthanda.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Anil Ravipudi won the Best Direction for the Telugu film, Bhagavathi Kesari.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Rakshit Shetty presents the award to Tovino Thomas for his Performance in a Leading Role (Male) for the Malayalam movie 2018: Everyone Is A Hero.
Interestingly, this was India’s choice for the Oscars last year, and here’s why you should watch it!

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Mamitha Baiju won the Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Female) award for the Malayalam movie, Pranayama Vilasam.

The male counterpart of the award went to Sudhi Kozhikode for Kaathal: The Core.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Arjun Radhakrishnan won the Best Performance in a Negative Role for the Malayalam movie Kannur Squad.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Jeo Baby won the Best Direction award for Kaathal: The Core, a film that sees Mammootty’s brilliance once again.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Venu Kunnappilly won the Best Picture for 2018: Everyone Is A Hero.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Keerthy Suresh won the award for IIFA Honour for Excellence in South Indian cinema.

 

Photograph: Kind courtesy IIFA Utsavam/Instagram

Karan Johar presents Nandamuri Balakrishna the Golden Legacy Award.

 

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Priyadarshan is presented the Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema award.

Photographs curated by Satish Bodas/Rediff.com