69th National Film Awards: Hindi Cinema Dominates, RRR Earns Accolades

New Delhi: The 69th National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi, highlighting Hindi cinema and the prominent film “RRR.” Best Actress honours were shared by Alia Bhatt for “Gangubai Kathiawadi” and Kriti Sanon for “Mimi,” while Allu Arjun was awarded the Best Actor award for “Pushpa: The Rise,” marking their first National Awards. “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect” clinched Best Film.

Pankaj Tripathi, Kriti’s co-star in “Mimi,” earned Best Supporting Actor, and Pallavi Joshi secured Best Supporting Actress for “The Kashmir Files,” which also won Best Film on National Integration. Notably, “RRR” swept awards, including Best Popular Film. The movie shared the Best Music accolade with Kaala Bhairava winning Best Male Playback Singer and Shreya Ghoshal as Best Female Playback Singer.

Accolades continued for “Gangubai Kathiawadi” and “Sardar Udham,” named Best Hindi Film. “Gangubai Kathiawadi” triumphed with Best Screenplay and other honours. The film “Shershaah” received a Special Jury award. Renowned filmmaker Ketan Mehta led the jury in announcing the feature film awardees.

Expectations build for the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinematic honour. The awards ceremony, presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, is scheduled for later this year. Last year’s winners included Suriya and Ajay Devgn, who shared the Best Actor recognition for their roles in “Soorarai Pottru” and “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior,” alongside Suriya’s co-star Aparna Balamurali.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Feature Film: Rocketry
Best Director: Nikhil Mahajan (Godavari)
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: RRR
Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration: The Kashmir Files
Best Actor: Allu Arjun (Pushpa)
Best Actress: Alia Bhatt (Gangubai Kathiawadi) and Kriti Sanon (Mimi)
Best Supporting Actor: Pankaj Tripathi (Mimi)
Best Supporting Actress: Pallavi Joshi (The Kashmir Files)
Best Child Artist: Bhavin Rabari (Chhello Show)
Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director: Meppadiyan (Vishnu Mohan)
Best Film on Social Issues: Anunaad: The Resonance
Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation: Aavasavyuham
Best Children’s Film: Gandhi and Co
Best Screenplay (Original): Shahi Kabir (Nayattu)
Best Screenplay (Adapted): Sanjay Leela Bhansali & Utkarshini Vashishtha (Gangubai Kathiawadi)
Best Dialogue Writer: Utkarshini Vashishtha & Prakash Kapadia (Gangubai Kathiawadi)
Best Music Director (Songs): Devi Sri Prasad (Pushpa)
Best Music Direction (Background Music): MM Keeravaani (RRR)
Best Male Playback Singer: Kaala Bhairava (RRR)
Best Female Playback Singer: Shreya Ghoshal (Iravin Nizhal)
Best Lyrics: Chandrabose (Konda Polam’s Dham Dham Dham)
Best Audiography (Location Sound Recordist): Arun Asok & Sonu K P (Chavittu)
Best Audiography (Sound Designer): Aneesh Basu (Jhilli)
Best Audiography (Re-recordist of the final mixed track): Sinoy Joseph (Sardar Udham)
Best Choreography: Prem Rakshith (RRR)
Best Cinematography: Avik Mukhopadhayay (Sardar Udham)
Best Costume Designer: Veera Kapur Ee (Sardar Udham)
Best Special Effects: Srinivas Mohan (RRR)
Best Production Design: Dmitrii Malich and Mansi Dhruv Mehta (Sardar Udham)
Best Editing: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Gangubai Kathiawadi)
Best Make-up: Preetisheel Singh (Gangubai Kathiawadi)
Best Stunt Choreography: King Soloman (RRR)
Special Jury Award: Shershaah (Vishnuvardhan)
Special Mention: 1. Late Shri Nallandi (Kadaisi Vivasayi) 2. Aranya Gupta & Bithan Biswas (Jhilli) 3. Indrans (Home) 4. Jahanara Begum (Anur)
Best Hindi Film: Sardar Udham
Best Kannada Film: 777 Charlie
Best Malayalam Film: Home
Best Gujarati Film: Chhello Show
Best Tamil Film: Kadaisi Vivasayi
Best Telugu Film: Uppena
Best Maithili Film: Samanantar
Best Mishing Film: Boomba Ride
Best Marathi Film: Ekda Kaay Zala
Best Bengali Film: Kalkokkho
Best Assamese Film: Anur
Best Meiteilon Film: Eikhoigi Yum
Best Odia Film: Pratikshya
Best Investigative Film: Looking For Challan
Best Exploration Film: Ayushman
Best Educational Film: Sirpigalin Sirpangal
Best Short Fiction Film: Dal Bhat
Best Animation Film: Kandittundu
Best Film on Family Values: Chand Saanse
Best Non-feature film: Ek Tha Gaon
Best Direction (Non-feature film): Bakul Matiyani, Smile Please)
Best Cinematography (Non-feature film): Bittu Rawat (Pataal)
Best Audiography (Re-recordist of the final mixed track) (Non-feature film): Unni krishnan (Ek Tha Gaon)
Best Production Sound Recordist (Location/Sync Sound) (Non-feature film): Suruchi Sharma (Meen Raag)
Best Editing (Non-feature film): Abhro Banerjee (If Memory Serves Me Right)
Best Music Direction (Non-feature film): Ishaan Divecha (Succelent)
Best Narration/Voice Over (Non-feature film): Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee (Hathibondhu)
Special Mention (Non-feature film): 1. Aniruddha Jatkar (Baale Bangara) 2. Srikanth Deva (Karuvarai) 3. Sweta Kumar Dash (The Healing Touch) 4. Ram Kamal Mukherjee (Ek Duaa)
Best Book on Cinema: Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal: The Incredibly Melodious Journey by Rajiv Vijayakar
Best Film Critic: Purushothama Charyulu
Best Film Critic (Special Mention): Subramanya Bandoor