Mumbai (Commonwealth Union)_ The 70th National Film Awards 2024, recognizing outstanding achievements in Indian cinema, were announced recently by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at a press conference in New Delhi. This year’s awards celebrate the cinematic excellence of 2022, with notable winners spanning various languages and genres. Among the highlights of the awards ceremony were the victories for Tamil and Kannada films. The biggest winners at India’s national film awards are “Kantara” and “KGF Chapter 2“. At the 70th National Film Awards, Malayalam cinema took the lead for South Indian films, securing an impressive eight awards across various categories. Overall, South Indian films claimed 20 awards, underscoring their significant presence in the Indian film industry.
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Accordingly, “Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1” emerged as a significant winner in the Tamil category, clinching awards for Best Tamil Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Design. The film, directed by Mani Ratnam, captivated audiences with its grand storytelling and intricate visuals. Additionally, the Kannada film “Kantara” also made a strong showing, with Rishabh Shetty receiving the Best Actor award for his compelling performance. The film won Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, further highlighting its widespread appeal and critical acclaim.
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In the Hindi film category, “Gulmohar” was recognized as the Best Hindi Film. The Best Actress Award was shared by Nitya Menon and Maansi Paarekh, while Sooraj R. Barjatya received the Best Director Award for “Uunchai.” A.R. Rahman won the National Film Award for Best Music Director (Background Music) for his work on Mani Ratnam’s “Ponnyin Selvan-Part 1,” which also took home the award for Best Tamil Film. Pritam was awarded Best Music Director (Songs) for “Brahmastra-Part 1.” The awards were announced by the head of the feature film jury, Rahul Rawail.
Here is a 70th national film awards – complete list of winners:
The following films were awarded in the best feature categories:
- Best Hindi Film: Gulmohar
- Best Kannada Film: KGF: Chapter 2
- 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 Feature Film: Aattam
- Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kantara
- Best Debut: Fouja by Pramod Kumar
- Best Tiwa Film: Sikaisal
- Best Bengali Film: Kaberi Antardhan
- Best Assamese Film: Emuthi Puthi
The following artists were awarded for their best performances:
- Best Actor: Rishabh Shetty for Kantara
- Best Actress: Nithya Menen in Tiruchitrabalam and Manasi Parekh in Kutch Express
- Best Director: Sooraj Barjatya for Uunchai
- Best Supporting Actress: Neena Gupta for Uunchai
- Best Supporting Actor: Pawan Malhotra for Fouji
- Special Mentions: Manoj Bajpayee in Gulmohar and Sanjoy Salil Chowdhury in Kalikhan
The following films were awarded for best performances:
- 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 Male 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
The following films were awarded for best film writing:
- Best Critic: Deepak Dua
- Best Book in Cinema: Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography
The following films were awarded for best 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
The awards ceremony, initially postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed with a celebration of cinematic achievements spanning two years. The previous awards, covering films from 2021, honored Rocketry: The Nambi Effect and actors Allu Arjun, Alia Bhatt, and Kriti Sanon. The 70th National Film Awards spotlighted the best of Indian cinema, reaffirming its diverse and rich storytelling traditions. The winners, along with the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, will be honored by President Droupadi Murmu in October 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. To be eligible, films must have been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. The ceremony will be live-streamed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on X and YouTube.
