Chennai, Sep 29 (IANS) Southern superstars Rajnikant and Kamal Haasan have bagged the best actor awards for 'Sivaji - The Boss' and 'Dasavatharam' respectively announced by the Tamil Nadu government. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi also won an award - for the dialogues of 'Uliyin Osai'.

The awards were announced Monday for the years 2007 and 2008.

Rajnikant was adjudged best actor for 2007 for his performance in 'Sivaji - The Boss', and Kamal for playing 10 different roles in his magnum opus 'Dasavatharam' in 2008.

'Sivaji' also bagged five moore awards including best movie, best villain for Suman, best comedian for Vivek, best female playback singer for Chinmayee and best art director for Thotta Tharani.

Following close behind was 'Mozhi', which bagged four awards - the second best film award of 2007, while Jyothika won best actress and Vidyasagar best music director for the same.

The award for the third best film for 2007 went to 'Pallikoodam', while Thankar Bachchan, who directed the film, was adjudged best director.

Sneha, who played a woman pining for her extended family after her husband's transfer transforms it into a nuclear unit in 'Pirivom Sandhippom', got the best actress award for the year 2008.

In the special award category for 2007, the best film trophy went to 'Periyar' and Sathyaraj won the best actor award for playing the title role in the film.

The best female actor award went to Priyamvatha for 'Mirugam'.

Vairamuthu won the best lyricist award for 'Periyar' and the best cinematographer was Nirav Shah for his work in 'Billa'.

For 2008, 'Dasavatharam' won best film awards and 'Vaali' won best lyricist and Michael Westmore and Kothandapani won best make-up artist award for the same.

Special awards for best actor and best actress for 2008 went to Suriya for 'Varanam Aayiram' and Trisha for 'Abhiyum Naanum' respectively.

The third prize for the best film went to the entertainer 'Santhosh Subramaniam' and the special award to 'Meiporul'.

Ilayaraja won the best music director award for 'Ajantha'. The best female playback award for 2008 went to Mahathi for 'Nenjathai Killathe' and the best male playback award to Pelliraja for 'Subramaniapuram'.

For 2007, 31 awards were announced and 34 for 2008. Technicians, singers, comedians and character actors have also been nominated. Awards have also been announced for students of the Film and Television Institute.