The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has officially unveiled the winners of the 70th National Film Awards, setting the spotlight on the extraordinary cinematic achievements of 2022. Despite the delays caused by the ongoing pandemic, which have pushed the awards schedule by a year, the anticipation and excitement remain high among film enthusiasts and industry insiders alike.
This year’s jury is a distinguished panel featuring Rahul Rawail as the Chairperson of the Feature Film Jury, Nila Madhab Panda heading the Non-Feature Film Jury, and Mr. Gangadhar Mudalair leading the Best Writing on Cinema Jury. Their expertise and critical eye have ensured a comprehensive and fair evaluation of the impressive array of films released last year.
**Feature Film Category: A Celebration of Storytelling**
Topping the list of accolades in the Feature Film Category is “Aattam,” directed by Aanand Ekarshi, which bagged the coveted Best Film award. The film’s intricate storytelling and compelling direction earned it the top honor amidst fierce competition.
Veteran director Sooraj R Barjatya won the Best Direction award for “Uunchai,” demonstrating his continued prowess in creating emotionally resonant cinema. The award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment went to “Kantara,” a film by Rishab Shetty that captured audiences with its entertaining narrative and engaging performances.
Pramod Kumar’s “Fouja” marked a remarkable entry with the Best Debut Film of a Director, setting a strong precedent for future filmmakers. Rishabh Shetty’s outstanding performance in “Kantara” earned him the Best Actor award, while the Best Actress accolade was shared by Nithya Menen for “Thiruchitrambhalam” and Manasi Parekh for “Kutch Express.”
In supporting roles, Pavan Raj Malhotra’s portrayal in “Fouja” and Neena Gupta’s in “Uunchai” were recognized as the Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively. Sreepath’s performance in “Malikappuram” earned him the title of Best Child Artist, highlighting the young talent’s potential.
**Technical and Artistic Excellence**
The awards ceremony also honored technical and artistic brilliance in filmmaking. Ravi Varman’s outstanding work in “Ponniyin Selvan 1” earned him the Best Cinematography award. Anand Ekarshi’s screenplay for “Aattam” was celebrated as the Best Screenplay, while the Best Dialogue Writer award was shared by Arpita Mukherjee and Rahul V Chittela for their work on “Gulmohar.”
Further recognition in the production domain included Ananda Addhya for Best Production Design in “Aparajito” and Somnath Kundu for Best Make-Up Artist, also for “Aparajito.” Niki Joshi’s meticulous creation of costumes in “Kutch Express” earned her the Best Costume Design award.
The realm of music saw Pritam winning the Best Music Direction award for Songs for “Brahmastra Part 1: Shiva,” and the legendary AR Rahman bagging the award for Best Music Direction in Background Scores for “Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1.” Naushad Sadar Khan’s poignant lyrics for “Salaami” in “Fouja” were recognized as the Best Lyrics, while Arijit Singh and Bombay Jayashri won Best Male and Female Playback Singer awards, respectively.
**Action, Editing, Sound, and Special Awards**
Action choreography saw Anbariv taking home the award for Best Action Choreography in “KGF Chapter 2.
.” Mahesh Bhuvanend’s editing for “Aattam” stood out, earning him the Best Editing award, while Anand Krishnamoorthy’s skillful sound design in “Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1” was honored as Best Sound Design.
The Special Jury Award was merited to actors Manoj Bajpayee for his performance in “Gulmohar” and Sanjoy Chowdhury for his work in “Kadhikan,” acknowledging their exceptional contributions to cinema.
**Regional and Genre-Specific Acknowledgments**
A wide range of regional films also received commendations. “Emuthi Puthi” by Kulanandini Mahanta won Best Assamese Film, “Kaberi Antardhan” directed by Kaushik Ganguly was awarded Best Bengali Film, and “Gulmohar” by Rahul V. Chittella took home the prize for Best Hindi Film.
Other notable winners include “KGF: Chapter 2” by Prashanth Neel for Best Kannada Film, “Saudi Vellakka CC 225/2009” by Tharun Moorthy for Best Malayalam Film, and “Vaalvi” by Paresh Mokashi for Best Marathi Film. The Best Tiwa Film award went to “Sikaisal” by Dr. Bobby Sarma Baruah, and the Best Odia Film recognition was given to “Daman” by Vishal Mourya and Debi Prasad Lenka.
“Baghi Di Dhee” by Mukesh Gautam won the Best Punjabi Film award, “Ponniyin Selvan Part 1” by Mani Ratnam was honored as Best Tamil Film, and “Karthikeya 2” by Chandoo Mondeti won Best Telugu Film. “Brahmastra: Part 1 – Shiva” also clinched the Best Film in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comic, thanks to Ayan Mukherji’s visionary direction.
Finally, celebrating films that promote national, social, and environmental values, “Kutch Express” directed by Viral Shah was recognized.
**Non-Feature Film Category: Documentaries and Short Films**
Siddhant Sarin’s “Ayena” triumphed as the Best Non-Feature Film while Sahil Vaidya’s “Murmurs of the Jungle” took the Best Documentary award. The Best Non-Feature Film Direction award went to Miriam Chandy Menacherry for “From The Shadow,” and the Best Script was awarded to Koushik Sarkar for “Mono No Aware.”
Sumant Shinde’s narration in “Murmurs Of The Jungle” earned the Best Narration/Voice Over award, and “A Coconut Tree” by Joshy Benedict was named Best Animated Film. The meticulous editing by Suresh URS in “Madhyantara” and Manas Choudhury’s sound design for “Yaan” were also honored.
In the category of non-feature cinematography, Siddharth Diwan’s work in “Mono No Aware” stood out, and Nabapan Deka’s “Xunyota” was awarded Best Short Film. Basti Dinesh Shenoy’s debut in “Madhyantara” was celebrated, showcasing a new wave of talent.
**Special Recognition**
Best Writing on Cinema this year honored Anirudha Bhattacharjee and Parthiv Dhar for “Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography,” while Deepak Dua was recognized as Best Film Critic for his work in Hindi.
The 70th National Film Awards exemplify the highest standards of cinematic achievement, celebrating the diversity and richness of India’s film industry. As we honor these winners, we look forward to another year of groundbreaking and inspiring work from filmmakers across the nation.
