By News Desk

The 69th National Film Awards winners were declared on Friday, August 24 at the National Media Centre in New Delhi. These esteemed awards, initiated in 1954, are managed by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Government of India.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and consequent lockdowns, the event celebrated films from 2021. Among the prominent winners was the Alia Bhatt starrer film ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, securing five accolades.

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali said, “I’m elated for all the winners, be it my film or others. Acknowledgment from the government, national recognition, and praise from a reputable jury always bring joy. This celebration of cinema from across India is a truly splendid moment for us all. I’m extremely delighted.”

Alia Bhatt who played the lead role in ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ was honoured with the ‘Best Actress’ award. She jointly received the award with Kriti Sanon, acknowledged for her role in ‘Mimi’. The two actresses exchanged congratulatory messages on Instagram.

Sanon wrote: “Congratulations Aliaaaa! So so well deserved! I’ve always admired your work and I’m too excited that I got to share this huge moment with you!

“Yayyyiiee! Biggg hug! Let’s celebrate!”

Meanwhile, Alia said: “Kriti… I remember messaging you the day I saw Mimi… it was such an honest and powerful performance… I cried and cried… so so well deserved… shine on you star.

“The world is your oyster @kritisanon.”

Interestingly, ‘Mimi’ features a Scottish child actor Jacob Smith, who was cast for the role of Raj Rathore whilst on a family holiday in Goa, India. 

Revered actor Pankaj Tripathi also won the award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for his role in ‘Mimi’ and released a statement where he paid tribute to his father who passed away recently.

During this time of “loss and grieving” for him, Tripathi said:

“This National Award I dedicate to him and his spirit. I’m who I am today because of him.

“I’m in loss of words due to this time but I’m happy and grateful to the team.

“Kriti Sanon also has won the Best Actress, so a huge congratulations to her.”

RRR, the international blockbuster directed by SS Rajamouli, secured six awards, and The Kashmir Files by Vivek Agnihotri also earned two awards.

Agnihotri, who is currently in the United States, conveyed his appreciation, mentioning that he woke up to this exciting news.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Mishing Film

Boomba Ride

Best Assamese Film

Anur

Best Bengali Film

Kalkkoho

Best Hindi Film

Sardar Udham

Best Kannada Film

777 Charlie

Best Gujarati Film

Chello Show

Best Maithili Film

Samanantar

Best Marathi Film

Ekda Kay Zala

Best Malayalam Film

Home

Best Tamil Film

Kadaisi Vivasayi

Best Telugu Film

Uppena

Best Meiteilon Film

Eikhoigi Yum

Best Odiya Film

Pratikshya

Special Jury Award

Shershaah

Best Child Artist

Bhavin Rabari – Chhello Show

Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director

Vishnu Mohan – Meppadiyan

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: The Rise

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 – Dham Dham Dham (Konda Polam)

Best Audiography (Location Sound Recordist)

Arun Asok & Sonu KP – Chavittu

Best Audiography (Sound Designer)

Aneesh Basu – Jhilli

Best Audiography (Re-recordist of the final mixed track)

Sinoy Joseph – Sardar Udham

Best Editing

Sanjay Leela Bhansali – Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Choreography

Prem Rakshith – RRR

Best Cinematography

Avik Mukhopadhyay – Sardar Udham

Best Costume Designer

Veera Kapur Ee – Sardar Udham

Best Special Effects

Srinivas Mohan – RRR

Best Production Design

Dmitrii Malich & Mansi Dhruv Mehta – Sardar Udham

Best Make-up

Preetisheel Singh – Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Stunt Choreography

King Soloman – RRR

Best Director

Nikhil Mahajan – Godavari

Best Actor

Allu Arjun – Pushpa: The Rise

Best Actress

Alia Bhatt – Gangubai Kathiawadi

Kriti Sanon – Mimi

Best Supporting Actor

Pankaj Tripathi – Mimi

Best Supporting Actress

Pallavi Joshi – The Kashmir Files

Best Film on National Integration

The Kashmir Files

Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment

RRR

Best Feature Film

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect

Special Mention

Baale Bangara (Aniruddha Jatkar)

Karuvarai (Srikanth Deva)

The Healing Touch (Sweta Kumar Das)

Ek Duaa (Ram Kamal Mukherjee)

Best Narration/Voiceover

Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee

Best Music Direction

Ishaan Divecha – Succulent

Best Editing

Abhro Banerjee – If Memory Serves Me Right

Best Production Sound Recordist (Location/Sync Sound)

Suruchi Sharma – Meen Raag

Best Audiography (Re-recordist)

Unni Krishnan – Ek Tha Gaon

Best Cinematography

Bittu Rawat – Paatal

Best Direction

Bakul Matiyani – Smile Please

Best Film On Family Values

Chand Saanse

Best Short Fiction Film

Daal Bhat

Special Jury

Rekha

Best Animation Film

Kandittundu

Best Investigative Film

Looking For Challan

Best Exploration Film

Ayushman

Best Educational Film

Sirpigalin Sirpangal

Best Film On Social Issues

Mithu Di

Three Two One

Best Environmental Film

Munnam Valavu

Best Promotional Film

Endangered Heritage ‘Warli Art’

Best Science and Technology Film

Ethos Of Darkness

Best Arts Film

TN Krishnan Bow Strings To Divine

Best Book on Cinema

Rajiv Vijayakar – Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal: The Incredibly Melodious Journey

Best Film Critic

Purushothama Charyulu

Best Film Critic (Special Mention)

Subramanya Bandoor