The 70th National Film Awards winners were announced on Friday (August 16). Honouring excellence across film industries, the awards aim to celebrate artists' immense contributions to shaping Indian cinema. This year, it was a 'Kantara' show with the Rishab Shetty starrer securing several notable honours. Maniratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan: I' and 'Brahmastra' also won top awards judged by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Contention was open to both feature and non-feature films that have received Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certification between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. Rahul Rawail, the chair of the feature film jury, Nila Madhab Panda, the chair of the non-feature film jury, and Gangadhar Mudalair, the chair of the best writing on cinema panel, were part of this year's jury. The official ceremony will be honoured at a later date.
The Malayalam-language drama 'Aattam' won the Best Feature Film award, while Rishab Shetty took home the Best Actor award. The Best Actress honour was shared by Nithya Menen and Manasi Parekh. Sooraj Barjatya was named the Best Director for his film 'Uunchai'.
FEATURE CATEGORIES
Best Feature Film – Aattam
Best Actor – Rishab Shetty, Kantara
Best Actress – Nithya Menen in Tiruchitrabalam, and Manasi Parekh in Kutch Express
Best Director – Sooraj Barjatya, Uunchai
Best Supporting Actress – Neena Gupta, Uunchai
Best Supporting Actor – Pawan Malhotra, Fouji
Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment – Kantara
Best Debut – Fouja, Pramod Kumar
Best Telugu Film – Karthikeya 2
Best Tamil Film – Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1
Best Punjabi Film – Baaghi Di Dhee
Best Odia Film – Daman
Best Malayalam Film – Saudi Velakka CC.225/2009
Best Marathi Film – Vaalvi
Best Kannada Film – KGF: Chapter 2
Best Hindi Film – Gulmohar
Best Tiwa Film – Sikaisal
Best Bengali Film – Kaberi Antardhan
Best Assamese Film – Emuthi Puthi
Special Mentions – Manoj Bajpayee in Gulmohar, and Sanjoy Salil Chowdhury for Kalikhan
Best Action Direction – KGF: Chapter 2
Best Choreography – Tiruchitrabalam
Best Lyrics – Fouja
Best Music Director – Pritam (Songs), AR Rahman (Background Score)
Best Makeup – Aparajito
Best Costumes – Kutch Express
Best Production Design – Aparajito
Best Editing – Aattam
Best Sound Design – Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1
Best Screenplay – Aattam
Best Dialogues – Gulmohar
Best Cinematography – Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1
Best Female Playback – Saudi Velakka CC.225/2009, Bombay Jayashri
Best Female Playback – Brahmastra, Arijit Singh
Best Child Artist – Sreepath in Mallikappuram
Best Film in AVGC – Brahmastra
Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values – Kutch Express
FILM WRITING
Best Critic – Deepak Dua
Best Book on Cinema – Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography
NON-FEATURE CATEGORIES
Best Non-Feature Film – Ayena
Best Debut Film – Madhyantara
Best Biographical/Historical/Compilation Film – Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro
Best Arts/Culture Film – Ranga Vibhoga/Varsa
Best Script – Mono No Aware
Best Narrator – Murmurs of the Jungle
Best Music Direction – Fursat
Best Editing – Madhyantara
Best Sound Design – Yaan
Best Cinematography – Mono No Aware
Best Direction – From the Shadow
Best Short Film – Xunyota
Best Animated Film – The Coconut Tree
Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values – On the Brink Season 2 – Gharial
Best Documentary – Murmurs of the Jungle
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