The winners of the 68th National Film Awards were announced today in New Delhi. Established in 1954, the prestigious awards are administered by the Government of India's Directorate of Film Festivals. Because of Covid-19-related delays, this year's ceremony honoured films from 2020, across several categories. Earlier today, a 10-member jury led by filmmaker Vipul Shah met Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur and submitted its report on the 68th National Film Awards. Speaking about the awards to ANI, Thakur said, “I want to congratulate all the jury members and all those people whose work was reviewed and would like to congratulate those recipients who will be awarded with the National Film Awards. A word of appreciation for everyone who has done an outstanding job.” He added, “I am glad that this year we will be holding the 68 National Film Awards since we could not hold the awards for two years because of Covid.” Here are the winners: Feature Films Best Feature Film: Soorarai Pottru Best Director: Sachy, Ayyappanum Koshiyum Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Tanhaji Best Actor: Suriya for Soorarai Pottru and Ajay Devgn for Tanhaji Best Actress: Aparna Balamurali, Soorarai Pottru Best Supporting Actor: Biju Menon, Ayyappanum Koshiyam Best Supporting Actress: Lakshmi Priya Chandramouli, Sivaranjaniyum Innam Sila Pengallum Best Screenplay: Soorarai Pottru, Shalini Usha Nair and Sudha Kongara Best Screenplay (Dialogue Writer): Madonne Ashwin, Mandela Best Music Direction (Songs): Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Thaman S Best Music Direction (Background Music): Soorarai Pottru, GV Prakash Best Male Playback Singer: Rahul Deshpande for Mi Vasantrao Best Female Playback Singer: Nanchamma, Ayyappanum Koshiyam Best Lyrics: Saina, Manoj Muntashir Best Audiography (Location Sound Recordist): Jobin Jayan, Dollu Best Audiography (Sound Designer): Anmol Bhave, Mi Vasantrao Best Audiography (Re-recordist of the final mixed track): Vishnu Govind and Sree Sankar for Malik Best Choreography: Sandhya Raju, Natyam Best Cinematography: Avijatrik, Supratim Bhol Best Costume Design: Nachiket Barve and Mahesh Sherla, Tanhaji Best Production Design: Anees Nadodi, Kappela Best Editing: Sreekar Prasad, Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum Best Make-up: TV Rambabu, Natyam Best Stunt Choreography: Rajasekhar, Mafia Sasi and Supreme Sunder, Ayyappanum Koshiyum Special Mention: Aimee Baruah for Semkhor, Vaanku, June, Kishore Kadam for Avwanchhit & Godakaath, and Varun Buddhadev for Toolsidas Junior Best Hindi Film: Toolsidas Junior Best Kannada Film: Dollu Best Malayalam Film: Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam Best Tamil Film: Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum Best Telugu Film: Colour Photo Best Haryanvi Film: Dada Lakhmi Best Dimasa Film: Samkhor Best Tulu Film: Jeetige Best Marathi Film: Goshta Eka Paithanichi Best Bengali Film: Avijatrik Best Assamese Film: The Bridge Best Child Artist: Anish Mangesh Gosavi for Tak-Tak Best Children's Film: Sumi Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation: Talendanda Best Film on Social Issue: Funeral Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director: Mandela Non-feature Films Best Non-feature Film: Testimony of Anna Best Environment Film: Manah Aru Manuh Best Film on Family Values: Kukumarchan Best Short Fiction Film: Kachichinithu Best Investigative Film: The Saviour: Brig. Pritam Singh Best Promotional Film: Surmounting Challenges Best Science and Technology Film: On the Brink Season 2 - Bats Best Exploration Film: Wheeling The Ball Best Educational Film: Dreaming of Words Best Film on Social Issues: Justice Delayed But Delivered and Three Sisters Best Arts and Culture Film: Naadada Navaneeta DR PT Venkateshkumar Best Biographical Film: Pabung Syam Best Ethnographic Film: Mandal ke Bol Best Debut Non-feature Film of a Director: Pariah Best Direction: Oh That's Bhanu, RV Ramani Best Cinematography: Shabdikkunna Kalappa, Nikhil S Praveen Best Audiography: Pearl of the Desert, Ajit Singh Rathore Best Narration Voiceover: Rhapsody of Rains - Monsoons of Kerala, Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan Best Music Direction: 1232 kms: Marenge Toh Wahin Jaakar, Vishal Bhardwaj Best Editing: Borderlands, Anadi Athaley Best On Location Sound: Jadui Jangal, Sandip Bhati and Pradeep Lekhwar Special Jury Award: Admitted, Ojaswee Sharma Best Book on Cinema: The Longest Kiss by Kishwar Desai Best Book on Cinema (Special Mention): MT Anunahvangalude Pusthakam, Anoop Ramakrishnan and Kali Paine Kalira Cinema by Surya Deo Best Film Critic: No winner this year. Most Film Friendly State: Madhya Pradesh Apart from chairperson Vipul Shah, the jury members include cinematographer Dharam Gulati, National Award-winning Bengali actor Sreelekha Mukherjee, cinematographer GS Bhaskar, A Karthikraaja, VN Aditya, Viji Thampi, Sanjeev Rattan, S Thangadurai and Nishigandha.
