The prestigious 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is set to take place in Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat, on September 22. This event marks a significant policy shift by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, moving the annual celebration of Indian cinematic excellence beyond the national capital for the first time.
A New Chapter for India's Top Film Honors
Instituted in 1954, the National Film Awards are among India's most esteemed accolades, recognizing outstanding achievements across feature films, non-feature films, and writing on cinema. For over seven decades, these awards have highlighted India's rich linguistic, cultural, and regional diversity in filmmaking.
The decision to host the ceremony in various parts of the country, starting with Gujarat, aligns with the government's "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" (One India, Great India) initiative. This move aims to bring together filmmakers, actors, technicians, and artists from all corners of the nation, celebrating their contributions to Indian cinema in diverse settings.
Major Winners Announced
Among the notable recipients for the year 2024, the film 'Article 370' has been honored with the Best Feature Film award. Yami Gautam received the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her performance in the same film.
- Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan were recognized as Best Actors in Leading Roles for their work in 'Bramayugam' and 'Chandu Champion', respectively.
- Randeep Hooda is set to receive the Best Debut Director award for his film 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'.
- In the non-feature categories, 'Bhangaar' was named Best Non-Feature Film, and 'Ram-Nami' secured the Best Documentary award.
Several other popular films are also slated for recognition across various categories, including 'Kalki 2898 AD', 'Amaran', 'Pushpa: The Rule Part-02', 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3', and 'Stree 2'.
Spotlight on Regional Cinema and Critical Writing
The 72nd edition of the awards will continue its tradition of celebrating films in a multitude of languages, including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu, and Garhwali. This year marks a historic moment with a Santhali film being honored in the Non-Feature Film section for the first time, underscoring the growing recognition of diverse regional cinematic voices.
In the Writing on Cinema category, Sanjeev Shrivastava was named Best Film Critic. Dr. Pradeep Kenchanuru will receive the Best Book on Cinema award for his insightful work on the political and philosophical dimensions of Kannada cinema.