The 69th edition of the National Film Awards was officially unveiled last Thursday during a press conference held by the Jury at the National Media Center in New Delhi. This eagerly awaited event saw the esteemed Jury members of the National Film Awards present the list of remarkable winners across various categories, spanning feature films, non-feature films, and outstanding scriptwriting, all of which were handed over to the deserving recipients by none other than Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur.
In a remarkable display of cinematic excellence, a total of 280 films in 28 diverse languages were submitted for consideration for these prestigious awards in the year 2021. These submissions were meticulously evaluated across 31 categories for Feature films, 24 for non-feature films, and 3 for scriptwriting dedicated to the art of cinema.
Here’s the comprehensive roster of the victors at the 69th National Film Awards:
Best Feature Film:
- “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect”
Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration:
- “The Kashmir Files”
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment:
- “RRR”
Best Actress:
- Alia Bhatt for “Gangubai Kathiawadi”
- Kriti Sanon for “Mimi”
Best Actor:
- Allu Arjun for “Pushpa”
Best Supporting Actor and Actress:
- Pallavi Joshi for “Kashmir Files”
- Pankaj Tripathi for “Mimi”
Best Editor Award:
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali for “Gangubai Kathiawadi”
Best Music Director:
- Devi Sri Prasad for “Pushpa”
“RRR” Triumphs Across Three Categories:
- Action Direction
- Choreography
- Special Effects
Best Non-Feature Film:
- “Ek Tha Gaon” (Language: Garwali and Hindi)
Best Films in Various Languages:
- Hindi: “Sardar Udham”
- Gujarati: “Chhello Show”
- Kannada: “777 Charlie”
- Mishing: “Boomba Ride”
- Assamese: “Anur”
- Bengali: “Kalkokkho”
- Maithili: “Samanantar”
- Marathi: “Ekda Kay Zala”
- Malayalam: “Hom”
Notable Awards:
- Best Film on Social Issues: “Anunaad – The Resonance”
- Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation: “Aavasavyuham” (Malayalam)
- Best Children’s Film: “Gandhi & Co.” (Gujarati)
Other Distinctions:
- Best Direction: “Godavari – The Holy Water”
- Best Screenplay: “Nayattu – The Hunt” (Malayalam)
- Best Audiography: “Chavittu” (Malayalam)
- Best Make-up Artist: “Gangubai Kathiawadi” (Hindi)
- Best Music Direction: “Pushpa – The Rise (Part I)”
- Best Lyrics: “Konda Polam” (Telugu)
- Special Jury Award: “Shershaah”
The crowning moment of the ceremony came with the announcement that the Hindi film “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect” had secured the coveted National Award for Best Feature Film. Additionally, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon were both acknowledged with the Best Actress award for their standout performances in “Gangubai Kathiawadi” and “Mimi” respectively. The talented Allu Arjun clinched the title of Best Actor for his exceptional portrayal in the Telugu film “Pushpa: The Rise (Part I)”.