Indian cinema continues to flourish, showcasing an array of diverse stories, brilliant performances, and outstanding technical expertise. Every actor, director, and crew member pours their heart and soul into making a film, and the National Film Awards serve as a testament to this dedication. On August 16, 2024, the 70th National Film Awards winners were announced, recognizing the exceptional talent and hard work that went into creating some of the most remarkable films of the year. The awards were presented by Rahul Rawail, Nila Madhab Panda, and Gangadhar Mudalair, who chaired the Feature Film, Non-Feature Film, and Best Writing on Cinema juries, respectively.
► Major Wins Across Industries
The 70th National Film Awards celebrated a wide range of achievements across various regional film industries, reflecting the richness and diversity of Indian cinema. The Malayalam film industry emerged as a major winner, securing eight awards, followed by the Tamil and Kannada film industries with seven awards each. The Telugu film industry also made its mark, albeit with just one award.
One of the standout films of the year was Mani Ratnam's Tamil epic, Ponniyin Selvan 1, which bagged five awards, including Best Tamil Film of 2022. A.R. Rahman, a name synonymous with musical brilliance, won the Best Music Director award for his work in this film. Additionally, Ponniyin Selvan 2 earned Rahman the Best Background Score award, while Anand Krishnamurthy and Ravi Varman won Best Sound Design and Best Cinematographer, respectively.
The Kannada film industry also had a momentous year, with Rishab Shetty taking home the Best Actor award for his role in Kantara, which was also named the Best Feature Film providing wholesome entertainment. Another significant win for Kannada cinema was KGF Chapter 2, which was honored as the Best Kannada Film. Though with fewer wins, the Telugu industry still shone with Karthikeya 2 being recognized as the Best Telugu Film.
► Highlights from the Hindi and Malayalam Industries
The Hindi film industry saw Gulmohar by Sharmila Tagore and Manoj Bajpayee win the prestigious Best Hindi Film award. In the musical categories, Brahmastra dominated, with Arijit Singh winning Best Playback Singer and Pritam receiving the Best Music Director award.
Meanwhile, the Malayalam industry celebrated a plethora of wins. Aattam by Anand Ekarshi was a significant winner, securing the Best Film and Screenplay awards. The film's editor, Mahesh Bhuvanend, was also honored for Best Editing. Saudi Vellakka by Tharun Moorthy was named Best Malayalam Film, while Bombay Jayashri won Best Female Playback Singer for Chaayum Veyil from the same movie.
► Special Recognitions and Debut Wins
This year's awards also spotlighted some remarkable debut talents and unique achievements. The Best Debut Film of a Director was awarded to Dinesh Shenoy for Madhyantara, a Kannada film. The Best Animated Film award went to Joshy Benedict's silent movie A Coconut Tree. Additionally, the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award, whose recipient was revealed by the jury, marked a significant moment in the history of Indian cinema. However, the specific honoree will be awarded at a ceremony later in October 2024.
The 70th National Film Awards have once again underlined the incredible talent within Indian cinema. As the industry continues to evolve and push boundaries, these awards serve as a reminder of the passion, creativity, and hard work that fuel this vibrant cinematic landscape.
Inputs by Agencies
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