NEW DELHI: The 70th National Film Awards saw regional movies from the Southern states, especially Malayalam, taking the centre stage. The best feature film award went to the Malayalam movie “Aattam: The Play”, while Rishabh Shetty bagged the best actor award for the Kannada hit “Kantara“. Best actress prize was shared by Nithya Menen for the Tamil film “Thiruchitrambalam” and Manasi Parekh for the Gujarati movie “Kutch Express”.The lone Bollywood presence in the top categories was “Uunchai”, with Sooraj R Barjatya being named the best director.
The jury members presented the list of winners for the year 2022 to the union information and broadcasting minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Friday.
Malayalam cinema led the charge for South Indian films, winning eight awards, including best child actor, best screenplay, and best editing. In total, South Indian films bagged 20 awards across various categories in the feature film segment.
The top honour, the best feature film “Aattam: The Play”, directed by Anand Ekarshi, revolves around a theatre troupe and the changing dynamics after its only woman member alleges she has been groped by one of the men.
Setting a benchmark for recognising and celebrating the excellence in Indian cinema, particularly in the regional film industries, in the feature film category, out of the 24 awards, excluding the sub-category of best feature film in each language, 20 awards being shared by regional movies in Malayalam, Haryanvi, Kannada, Gujarati, Tamil, and Bengali. Only six awards were bagged by three Hindi films, with two being shared with other regional language movies.
Another big winner was the Haryanvi film “Fouja”, which got Pavan Malhotra the best supporting actor award and won two other awards – best debut film of a director for Pramod Kumar and best lyrics to Naushad Sadar Khan.
The recognition of films in languages like Haryanvi, Gujarati, and Marathi underscores the importance of promoting and nurturing cinema in all Indian languages.
The award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment also went to a non-Bollywood film, the Kannada blockbuster “Kantara”, which explores the intricate connection between humanity and nature through its folklore-based storytelling. The best actor, Shetty, plays the dual roles of a father and son in this film.
The 70th National Film Awards has highlighted the growing prominence and acclaim of regional cinema, particularly from the Southern states. Malayalam cinema, with its thought-provoking and socially relevant content, has made a significant mark, winning the top honours. The awards also recognised the talent and contributions of actors, directors, and technicians from various regional film industries, underlining the diversity and richness of Indian cinema.
The success of films like “Kantara” and “Ponniyin Selvan-Part 1” not only showcases the technical prowess and storytelling abilities of regional filmmakers but also reflects the changing tastes and preferences of the audience, which is increasingly appreciating and embracing content that goes beyond the conventional Bollywood formula and explores unique themes and narratives.
The best female playback singer award went to Padma Shri awardee “Bombay” Jayashri Ramnath, a champion of Indian Carnatic music, for the track “Chaayum Veyil” from the Malayalam film “Saudi Vellaka CC 225/2009” (Saudi Baby Coconut CC.225/2009), which also won the best Malayalam film award.
A R Rahman won the National Film Award for best music director (background music) for his work in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan-Part 1’, which was also named the best Tamil film. Pritam got the award for best music director (songs) for ‘Brahmastra-Part 1’.
As a testament that great stories and exceptional talent can emerge from any part of the country, irrespective of the language or region, in the non-feature films category, Ayena (Mirror) (Hindi/ Urdu) bagged the best non-feature film award, while Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro (yet another Mohenjo Daro) in Marathi won the best biographical / historical reconstruction/ compilation film. Murmurs of the Jungle (Marathi) was adjudged as the best documentary, and Xunyota (Void) in Assamese won the best short film award.
The 70th National Film Awards serves as a reminder that Indian cinema is not just limited to Bollywood but is a vibrant and thriving industry that encompasses a wide array of regional films.
The jury members presented the list of winners for the year 2022 to the union information and broadcasting minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Friday.
Malayalam cinema led the charge for South Indian films, winning eight awards, including best child actor, best screenplay, and best editing. In total, South Indian films bagged 20 awards across various categories in the feature film segment.
The top honour, the best feature film “Aattam: The Play”, directed by Anand Ekarshi, revolves around a theatre troupe and the changing dynamics after its only woman member alleges she has been groped by one of the men.
Setting a benchmark for recognising and celebrating the excellence in Indian cinema, particularly in the regional film industries, in the feature film category, out of the 24 awards, excluding the sub-category of best feature film in each language, 20 awards being shared by regional movies in Malayalam, Haryanvi, Kannada, Gujarati, Tamil, and Bengali. Only six awards were bagged by three Hindi films, with two being shared with other regional language movies.
Another big winner was the Haryanvi film “Fouja”, which got Pavan Malhotra the best supporting actor award and won two other awards – best debut film of a director for Pramod Kumar and best lyrics to Naushad Sadar Khan.
The recognition of films in languages like Haryanvi, Gujarati, and Marathi underscores the importance of promoting and nurturing cinema in all Indian languages.
The award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment also went to a non-Bollywood film, the Kannada blockbuster “Kantara”, which explores the intricate connection between humanity and nature through its folklore-based storytelling. The best actor, Shetty, plays the dual roles of a father and son in this film.
The 70th National Film Awards has highlighted the growing prominence and acclaim of regional cinema, particularly from the Southern states. Malayalam cinema, with its thought-provoking and socially relevant content, has made a significant mark, winning the top honours. The awards also recognised the talent and contributions of actors, directors, and technicians from various regional film industries, underlining the diversity and richness of Indian cinema.
The success of films like “Kantara” and “Ponniyin Selvan-Part 1” not only showcases the technical prowess and storytelling abilities of regional filmmakers but also reflects the changing tastes and preferences of the audience, which is increasingly appreciating and embracing content that goes beyond the conventional Bollywood formula and explores unique themes and narratives.
The best female playback singer award went to Padma Shri awardee “Bombay” Jayashri Ramnath, a champion of Indian Carnatic music, for the track “Chaayum Veyil” from the Malayalam film “Saudi Vellaka CC 225/2009” (Saudi Baby Coconut CC.225/2009), which also won the best Malayalam film award.
A R Rahman won the National Film Award for best music director (background music) for his work in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan-Part 1’, which was also named the best Tamil film. Pritam got the award for best music director (songs) for ‘Brahmastra-Part 1’.
As a testament that great stories and exceptional talent can emerge from any part of the country, irrespective of the language or region, in the non-feature films category, Ayena (Mirror) (Hindi/ Urdu) bagged the best non-feature film award, while Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro (yet another Mohenjo Daro) in Marathi won the best biographical / historical reconstruction/ compilation film. Murmurs of the Jungle (Marathi) was adjudged as the best documentary, and Xunyota (Void) in Assamese won the best short film award.
The 70th National Film Awards serves as a reminder that Indian cinema is not just limited to Bollywood but is a vibrant and thriving industry that encompasses a wide array of regional films.
