The biggest names of the Indian film industry will be walking the red carpet in Abu Dhabi for this year’s South Indian International Movie Awards.
Last year’s event was held in Singapore, while the event in 2015 was held in Dubai. This marks a first for the ceremony to be held in the capital.
The award celebrations will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on June 30 and July 1.
The event, which is being supported by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, will be attended by more than 600 actors, filmmakers and technicians, with the best performances taking home awards for movies released in 2016.
The South Indian International Movie Awards (Siima) destination was announced this week by award-winning South Indian actor Jayam Ravi, actress Shriya Saran and Tamil director Vijay at a conference in Abu Dhabi.
Indian actor, Rana Daggubati, whose critically-acclaimed multi-language movie Baahubali released last week, was also at the launch.
Ravi also hosted a special screening of his forthcoming Tamil action film Vanamagan, which also stars Sayyeshaa. The movie will hit cinemas on May 19.
The award ceremony is being promoted by Era Entertainment in the UAE and is being sponsored by Etihad Airways and Royal Arabian Management Company.
“We are delighted that Abu Dhabi has been chosen as the Official Host Destination for this year’s Siima event,” said Sultan Al Dhaheri, the acting executive director for tourism at the authority.
“We can now look forward to welcoming some of the biggest names in the South Indian film industry, as well as their legions of fans, to our wonderful emirate.”
He said this was an opportunity to showcase the capital as a family destination with global cuisine and international entertainment.
Brinda Prasad, the chairperson of the award show said that the UAE, with its large Indian population, was the perfect venue for the event. “UAE has always been very welcoming. Siima has always been the event of the year that the entire South Indian Film Industry looks forward to and this year too it will be a grand affair with a galaxy of stars.”
Daggubati, who was recently in the country to promote Baahubali added: “South Indian cinema has been creating benchmarks and setting the highest standards in movie making. Siima is proving to be an incredible platform which is taking South Indian cinema and artists closer to its fans across the globe.”
