The 71st National Film Awards, one of the most prestigious recognitions of cinematic brilliance in India, were officially announced today. Honouring achievements across Indian cinema’s vast spectrum, the awards celebrate excellence in acting, direction, music, production, and technical expertise. The final jury report was submitted to Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State Dr. L Murugan earlier today, followed by a press conference at the National Media Centre, New Delhi.
In a major highlight, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan bagged the Best Actor award for his powerful performance in Jawan, sharing the honour with Vikrant Massey for his role in 12th Fail. Acclaimed actress Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for her compelling portrayal in Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway.
The Hindi film Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery clinched the award for Best Hindi Film, showcasing how satire and social themes continue to make an impact in Indian storytelling.
Here’s a snapshot of major winners across various regional and technical categories:
Feature Film Awards:
- Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari
- Best Tamil Film: Parking
- Best Punjabi Film: Godday Godday Chaa
- Best Odia Film: Pushkara
- Best Marathi Film: Shyamchi Aai
- Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhokku
- Best Kannada Film: Kandeelu: The Ray of Hope
- Best Gujarati Film: Vash
- Best Bengali Film: Deep Fridge
- Best Assamese Film: Rangatapu 1982
Technical Awards:
- Best Cinematography: The Kerala Story
- Best Editing: Pookalam (Malayalam)
- Best Sound Design: Animal
- Best Action Direction: Hanu-man (Telugu)
- Best Choreography: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani
- Best Music Direction (Songs): Vaathi (Tamil)
- Best Lyrics: Balagam
- Best Make-up and Costume Design: Sam Bahadur
- Best Production Design: 2018 – Everyone is a Hero (Malayalam)
Playback & Supporting Roles:
- Best Male Playback Singer: Baby
- Best Female Playback Singer: Jawan
- Best Supporting Actress: Urvashi (Ullozhokku), Janaki (Vash)
- Best Supporting Actor: Vijayaraghavan (Pookalam), Muthupettai (Parking)
The awards once again reaffirm the diversity, depth, and talent flourishing across India’s cinematic landscape.
