India’s prestigious 71st National Film Awards recently celebrated the pinnacle of cinematic excellence, recognizing outstanding contributions across various categories for films certified in 2023. The ceremony saw Bollywood stalwarts and emerging talents alike honored, with Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey sharing best actor accolades, Rani Mukerji named best actress, and the critically acclaimed film ‘12th Fail’ securing the coveted top prize for Best Feature Film.
The biographical drama ‘12th Fail,’ directed by actor-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, emerged as a dominant force at the awards. Based on the inspiring life of civil servant Manoj Kumar Sharma, this Hindi-language film not only clinched the esteemed Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) for Best Feature Film but also earned its lead, Vikrant Massey, a well-deserved Best Actor award, highlighting its profound impact and compelling storytelling.
Shah Rukh Khan, a towering figure in Indian cinema, received his inaugural National Award for his powerful performance in the blockbuster ‘Jawan,’ directed by Atlee. Meanwhile, the versatile Rani Mukerji was celebrated for her poignant portrayal in ‘Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway,’ where she captivated audiences as a mother entangled in a custody battle against a foreign government, demonstrating her exceptional acting prowess.
Beyond the acting honors, the awards recognized directorial brilliance and thematic depth. Sudipto Sen was awarded Best Direction for the thought-provoking political thriller ‘The Kerala Story,’ which also secured Best Cinematography. Meghna Gulzar’s military biopic ‘Sam Bahadur’ was lauded for promoting national, social, and environmental values, alongside wins for Best Costume and Make-up. Karan Johar’s vibrant ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ earned Best Popular Film for Wholesome Entertainment and Best Choreography.
The supporting categories showcased a diverse array of talent, with Urvashi and Janki Bodiwala tying for Best Supporting Actress, and Vijayaraghavan and Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar sharing the Best Supporting Actor award. New directorial talent was acknowledged with ‘Aatmapamphlet’ winning Best Debut Film of a Director (Feature), and technological innovation in cinema was celebrated with ‘Hanu-Man’ receiving Best Film in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC).
Technical achievements were also meticulously recognized across the industry. ‘Animal’ secured awards for Best Sound Design and Re-recording, while G. V. Prakash Kumar of ‘Vaathi’ won for Best Music Direction (Songs). ‘Balagam’ was honored for Best Lyrics, and ‘2018: Everyone Is A Hero’ received Best Production Design. Best Editing went to ‘Pookalam,’ Best Original Screenplay was shared by ‘Baby’ and ‘Parking,’ and ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ won for Best Dialogue. Singing honors were bestowed upon PVN S Rohit for ‘Baby’ and Shilpa Rao for ‘Jawan.’
A significant aspect of the National Film Awards is their emphasis on regional cinema, ensuring representation across India’s linguistic landscape. Major regional film awards included ‘Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery’ for Best Hindi Film, ‘Bhagavanth Kesari’ for Telugu, ‘Parking’ for Tamil, ‘Ullazhukku’ for Malayalam, and ‘Vash’ for Gujarati, among many others across Bengali, Punjabi, Odia, Kannada, Marathi, Assamese, Garo, and Tai Phake languages.
The non-feature film category also presented a rich tapestry of storytelling. ‘Flowering Man’ was named Best Non-Feature Film, with ‘The First Film’ earning both Best Direction and Best Music in this segment. Other notable non-feature winners included ‘Little Wings’ for cinematography, ‘Moving Focus’ for editing, ‘Giddh The Scavenger’ as Best Short Film, and ‘Mau: The Spirit of Dream of Cheraw’ for Best Debut Film of a Director (Non-Feature), highlighting diverse narratives and innovative filmmaking.
Administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the National Film Awards are adjudicated by independent juries, ensuring impartiality and expertise in their selections. The 71st edition, a comprehensive review of cinematic output, meticulously evaluated 332 feature films, 115 non-feature films, 27 books, and 16 critics’ entries, underscoring the thoroughness and prestige of these esteemed Indian film awards.
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