The 69th National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Center in New Delhi on August 24, 2023. While the ceremony will be held at a future date, winners of the prestigious award were revealed yesterday, when the jury members of the National Film Awards handed over the list to Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur.
Every year, the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDCI) hands over the prestigious awards to honour and celebrate the best Indian films of 2021. According to reports, feature and non-feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 were eligible for contention. A total of 280 films from 28 languages were submitted for the awards this time around.
69th National Film Awards: Major Highlights
It was a big year for biopics as evident by R. Madhavan’s Rocketry: The Nambi Effect taking home the award for ‘Best Feature Film’ and Shoojit Sircar’s Sardar Udham winning the National Film Award for ‘Best Hindi Film’.
Nikhil Mahajan won the award for ‘Best Director’ for his film Godavari and the ‘Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film On National Integration’ went to The Kashmir Files.
Telugu superstar Allu Arjun won the award for ‘Best Actor’ for Pushpa: The Rise- Part 1. Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon tied for ‘Best Actress’ award for their performances in Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi respectively.
Aside from the ‘Best Actress’ win, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai was awarded in four other categories, including ‘Best Screenplay (Adapted)’, ‘Best Dialogue Writer’, ‘Best Editing’, and ‘Best Make-Up’.
The ‘Best Hindi Film’ winner Sardar Udham also won four more awards, including ‘Best Audiography’, ‘Best Cinematography’, ‘Best Costume Design’ and ‘Best Production Design’.
SS Rajamouli’s RRR continued its award winning streak at the National Film Awards by scoring a win in six categories, including the ‘Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment’. MM Keeravaani won the award for ‘Best Music Direction (Background Music)’ and his son Kaala Bhairava took home the award for ‘Best Male Playback Singer’. Aside from this, the movie also won awards for its choreography, special effects, and stunt choreography.
What did you think of this year’s National Film Award winners?
