The 61st National Awards are announced by the jury from the National Media Centre, Delhi. Please find below the list of winners from Tamil cinema. The number of awards bagged by Kollywood stand at five, one lesser than the last year. But, the last year’s count also included Balachandar’s Dada Saheb Phalke Award.
- Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration – Thalaimuraigal, directed by Balu Mahendra and produced by Sasikumar for Company Productions. Cash Award – Rs. 1,50,000 each to the producer and director
- Best Child Artist – Award shared by Sadhana for Thanga Meengal and Somnath Avghade for Fandry (Marathi film). Cash Award – Rs. 50,000 (to be shared)
- Best Editing – V.J. Sabu Joseph for Vallinam. Cash Award – Rs. 50,000
- Best Lyrics – Na. Muthukumar for Aanandha Yaazhai song from Thanga Meengal. Cash Award – Rs. 50,000
- Best Tamil Film – Thanga Meengal. Cash Award – Rs. 1,00,000 each to the producer JSK Film Corporation and director Ram