Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 25: The Coastal Film Awards 2025, organised by Sandis Company in association with Astra Group, were held in a glittering ceremony on Sunday at the Mulki Sundar Ram Shetty Convention Centre in Mangaluru, bringing together leading names from the Tulu film industry to celebrate cinematic excellence.
The event honoured outstanding performers and technicians from Tulu cinema for 2025, with cultural performances adding vibrancy to the evening. Theatre and film artiste Sarojini S Shetty was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Dr Devadas Kapikad received the Versatile Actor Award for his contribution to the industry.
The film “Nettarekere”, produced by Astra Production and directed by Swaraj Shetty, emerged as the dominant winner of the night, sweeping several key categories and drawing wide attention.
Major award winners
Best Impactful Film: Pidayi
Best Actor: Vineeth Kumar (Middle Class Family)
Best Actress: Dishali Poojary (Nettarekere)
Best Child Actor (Male): Akshar J. Shetty (Jai)
Best Child Actor (Female): Laksha Lanchulal (Meera)
Best Supporting Actress: Roopashree Varkadi (Middle Class Family)
Best Supporting Actor: Naveen D. Padil (Jai)
Best Comedy Actor: Aravind Bolar (Jai)
Best Director: Santosh Mada (Pidayi)
Special awards
Youth Icon (Male): Swaraj Shetty
Youth Icon (Female): Samatha Amin
Best Background Score: Karthik Moolki (Nettarekere)
Best Story: Rahul Amin (Middle Class Family)
Best Music Director: Likhith Prasad (Dharma Chaavadi)
Debut & technical categories
Best Debut Actor: Ashwath (Meera)
Best Debut Actress: Dhanya Poojary (Dharma Chaavadi)
Best Debut Director: Swaraj Shetty (Nettarekere)
Best Cinematography: Uday Ballal (Nettarekere)
Best Editing: Ganesh Neerchal (Nettarekere)
Best Art Direction: Vipin
Best Stunt Direction: Mass Mada (Nettarekere)
Best Publicity Design: Devi Rai (Nettarekere)
Best Lyrics: Arun Ullal (Nettarekere)
Best Choreography: Naveen Shetty Aryan (Middle Class Family)
Music & popular awards
Best Male Playback Singer: Nihal Tauro (Pilipanja)
Best Female Playback Singer: Vaikumbh Vijayalakshmi (Nettarekere)
Best Villain: Rajdeepak Shetty (Jai)
Most Popular Film: Middle Class Family
Best Social Impact Film: Meera
Best Film: Jai
The ceremony was attended by several prominent figures from the film and cultural fraternity, including Vijay Kumar Kodiabail, Dr Devadas Kapikad, actor Arjun Dev, producer Shilpa Ganesh, R Dhanraj, Pammi Kodiabail, Aravind Bolar, music directors Gurukiran and Manikanth Kadri, Prasanna Shetty Bailoor, Sandeep Shetty Manibettu, journalist Jagannath Shetty Baal, Sandis Company founder-chairman Sandesh Raj Bangera, Astra Group CEO and producer Lanchulal, Mind Mechanism president Srinath Shetty, distributor Sachin A.S (Uppinangady), and advocate Raghavendra Rao.
The event was compered by Vineeth Kumar, Sharmila Amin, and Manju Rai.