69th National Film Awards 2023 Highlights: Alia Bhatt-Kriti Sanon celebrate the win, Allu Arjun says ‘honored and humbled’

Allu Arjun won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film Pushpa: The Rise. Shershah, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect and Sardar Udham were among the other winners.

Venkatesh Daggubati wrote on Twitter, “Warmest congratulations to all the recipients of the 69th National Film Awards in 2021! It's a big day for Telugu Cinema . Congratulations to Bunny on the much deserved win. Best Actor! So proud @alluarjun. Congrats to the 'National Award winning composer' @ThisIsDSP.”

Allu Arjun congratulated team RRR for winning six National Awards and expressed his happiness.

Allu Arjun was awarded the Best Actor honour for the film Pushpa at the 69th National Film Awards.

Films from the South of India, such as Jai Bhim, Karnan, The Great Indian Kitchen, Sarpatta Parambarai, Nayattu and Malik, were snubbed at the 69th National Film Awards. Fans weren't pleased. READ MORE

Nani shared a note congratulating all the National Film Awards winners.

Actor Nani expressed his disappointment via his Instagram story after Jai Bhim did not receive an award at the National Film Awards 2023.

Allu Arjun shared via Instagram, "A huge congratulations to all the national award winners across various categories and languages throughout the nation. Your accomplishments are truly commendable . & I would like to express my gratitude for the love and wishes pouring in from all corners of the country. Feeling honored and humbled by it all. Thank you for the love . Humbled ??."

Nagarjuna tweeted, "Congratulations dear @alluarjun on winning the national award !! You make us proud??? #NationalFilmAwards2023 #Pushpa."

Keerthy Suresh shared via Twitter, "Congratulations to all the amazing winners at the #NationalFilmAwards2023 ?? Such a proud moment ??."

Nupur Sanon shared via her Insatagram, "National Award! You deserve it like a 100%."

Kriti Sanon shares a series of pictures from her celebration after her National Film Awards win. "Surrounded with love and loved ones ?? So much Gratitude in my heart ???," she wrote.

Expressing her happiness at Shershaah's win at 69th National Film Awards, Kiara Advani shared last night, "This win is so so special ???? Such a humbling moment for our entire team, truly grateful for the immense love our film Shershaah has received ???? congratulations team #Shershaah #69thNationalFilmAwards #myfirstnationalawardwinningfilm??."

Alia Bhatt got the National Film Award for Best Actress for the film Gangubai Kathiawadi. Alia's mother-in-law and actor Neetu Kapoor shared via Instagram story, "So So proud of you Alia for your first national award. God bless."

A new video is shared online where Pushpa: The Rise star Allu Arjun can be seen hugging his family members as he received the Best Actor National Film Award.

Tamil films like Suriya's Jai Bhim, Arya's Sarpatta Parambarai, Dhanush's Karnan, Simbu's Maanaadu and Malayalam films like Joju George's Nayattu and Tovino Thomas's Minnal Murali failed to get recognition at the 69th National Film Awards. Fans have been sharing their reactions on X (formerly Twitter).

Vikram Batra’s brother, Vishal Batra reacted to Shershaah's win at the 69th National Film Awards. In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha Vishal Batra shared, "It is a matter of great pride and happiness because this award is not only for the movie but it is also for the valour and the courage of every soldier who gave their lives in the Kargil war. While Vikram has become a legend, it is the sacrifice of the 527 soldiers who have been the unsung heroes. Shershaah also portrays the life that a solider lives while guarding the sovereignty of the country. I am happy to receive so much love and admiration from the entire country who appreciated the movie so much."

Vishal Batra spoke about Shershaah's win at National Film Awards, and congratulated the team. "I would like to congratulate the entire team Shershaah. I haven’t spoken to anyone as yet but I was aware of the fact that this movie has been nominated for the National Film Awards as I have been in regularly touch with Shabbir Boxwala (co-producer of the film). I would also like to give credit to Sandeep Shrivastava (writer of the film) who was in constant touch with me who penned the story in such a lovely way. My love and appreciation to Karan (Johar, the producer), Kiara (Advani) and Sidharth Malhotra who portrayed Vikram’s life on screen so beautifully. Vikram was a real hero and we always wanted an actor who could perform and match the standards that Vikram had set with his career at the Indian army and Sidharth was simply fantastic," he told News18.

R Madhavan’s directorial debut, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect won the Best Feature Film at the 69th National Film Awards. Sharing his happiness, R Madhavan shared with News18, "On Wednesday, after the victory of Chandrayaan-3, I could not think I could get any happier but on Thursday, with the big win for Rocketry and a childlike-glee on Nambi Narayanan sir’s face, it has been the ultimate reward! Five years of agony, pain, blood and sweat vanished in that one second when we called Nambi Sir and saw his face this morning. I’m very grateful to the audience, the jury and to the public for the kind of recognition we have got. It urges me to do even better than I can. I’m flattered, touched and quite speechless."

Anupam Kher shared via Instagram, "NATIONAL AWARD: Delighted and proud that #TheKashmirFiles won the prestigious and most important #NationalAward - Nargis Dutt award for #BestFeatureFilm on national integration. Not only as an actor but also being an executive producer on the film I am so happy for this recognition for our film. Would have loved to win an award for my acting too. ?? ??? ???? ????????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ?????????! Next time! My heartfelt congratulations to every winner! Jai Ho! ???."

ALSO READ THE KASHMIR FILES REVIEW HERE

Shreya Ghoshal got the Best Female Playback Singer award for Iravin Nizhal's song 'Maayava Chaayava'. She shared her happiness.

Pankaj Tripathi bagged the Best Supporting Actor award for Mimi, and Kriti Sanon posted, "Congratulations to my favvvvv @pankajtripathi sir!! Your father would be so so proud." Pankaj Tripathi lost his father just a few days back.

After Allu Arjun was announced as the Best Actor National Film Award winner for the film Pushpa: The Rise, he was seen addressing the local media outside his house, along with the cast and crew of the film.

R Madhavan's Rocketry: The Nambi Effect won the award for Best Feature Film. He shared via Instagram, "Today is an overwhelming day for Team Rocketry, and everybody involved with this film. Getting the national award for the Best Feature film has given us the belief that Nambi Narayanan Sir will finally get the recognition he so richly deserves, and that has been our only mission. The love of the audience around the world and the recognition bestowed upon us today has completely humbled me and I do not take this lightly. This has inspired me to give even more of myself to this wonderful profession I am in, and I hope to entertain all of you, as best as I can in the years to come. My heartfelt and BIG Congratulations to all the other National award winners and contenders who have put an extraordinary effort to get this recognition and come this far. On behalf of Team Rocketry and my family, our deepest gratitude to the Jury, Nambi sir and most IMPORTANTLY the film goers and audiences for the incredible recognition and honor. Jai Hind ??????????????#nationalfilmawards2023."

Allu Arjun's wife Allu Sneha shared a photo on her Instagram story as the actor celebrated his Best Actor National Film Award win for the film Pushpa: The Rise.

Joint winner of the Best Actress honour at the 69th National Film Awards, Kriti Sanon, shared her excitement, and wrote on social media, "Eyes are moist, Heart is full! ?? The National Award : Best Actress for Mimi ???? #Blessed #Grateful ?."

Mahesh Bhatt said in an interview with India Today, "I would say that it is undoubtedly a moment of great joy for me, and a moment of pride for family that this little girl got both popular mandate and also the highest award of the nation as best actor. I think she has got both the polls which is something we all thirst for. That is a unique achievement, I believe, at this stage in her life. We all relish this, her husband and her extended family, this award with her."

Alia Bhatt's father, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, told India Today that the Gangubai Kathiawadi star is currently in the UK. Expressing his happiness on her win, he shared, "Alia's achievements are her own. The gravitas with which she managed to play Gangubai shows her determination. Credit also goes to the director who managed to pull off such a great movie. The soil was there. The narrative was there. The award is always given to the cumulative impact that the actor has in that particular role that has a larger message. Like in Gangubai, how a victim turns her personal tragedy into her strength and becomes a beacon of hope for other women around her. That is life-affirming."

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal tweeted his best wishes to Pushpa: The Rise actor Allu Arjun. He wrote, "Congratulations to all the winners of the #NationalFilmAwards2023! A big shoutout to the Best Actor, dear @alluarjun; special kudos to Indrans, Vishnu Mohan, Shahi Kabir and the crews of #RRR and #Rocketry!"

Actor Jr NTR took to social media to congratulate the National Award winners, including Uppena makers, Chandrabose and Devi Sri Prasad.

Suriya took to Twitter to congratulate National Film Award winners Allu Arjun and DSP. He wrote, "Mighty congratulations to dear @alluarjun you’ve made history for the Telugu Film Industry with your Best Actor win at #69thNationalFilmAwards #Pushpa  So happy for @ThisIsDSPthis a well-deserved recognition!!! Shine on dear DSP!"

After winning the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in Gangubai Kathiawadi, Alia Bhatt penned an emotional message on her social media account. She wrote, "This national award is yours .. because without you ALL none of this would be possible.. seriously!!!..."

Nani took to Twitter to congratulate Telugu films which won big at the National Film Awards. He wrote, "Telugu cinema flies high Congratulations Team #RRR Team #Pushpa Team #Uppena and all who won from telugu cinema and rest of the country #NationalAwards."

Actor Rakshit Shetty tweeted his joy on his film Charlie 777 winning National Award for Best Kannada Film. He wrote, "Words cannot justify the happiness and delight this news has delivered! While I am ecstatic and overwhelmed, I am also feeling humbled and grateful. This is a proud moment for all of us at @ParamvahStudios. Many congratulations @Kiranraj61, the hardwork has paid off."

Oscar winner MM Keeravaani posted a message of gratitude after winning the National Award for Best Music Director (Background Score) for RRR. He wrote on Twitter, "Much honoured by this recognition for my background score by the honourable jury of 69th National Film Awards and congrats to DSP , Bose garu, Kaala Bhairava and my dear team of RRR."

Rashmika Mandanna congratulated her Pushpa co-star Allu Arjun on Twitter. She wrote, "Pushpa Rajjjjjjj..  asal #ThaggedheLe.. congratulationsssssss @alluarjun .. party timeeeeee."

Though Thalaivii was in the race in various categories, the Tamil film did not win any honours at the 69th National Film Awards. However, the film's lead actor Kangana Ranaut took to social media shortly after the awards were announced and congrtulated all the winners.

"Congratulations to all the winners of #nationalawards2023. It is such an art carnival that brings all the artists across the country together.... It's truly magical to know and to get introduced to so much important work that's happening across all languages... All of you who are disappointed that my film Thalaivii didn't win any... please know I am eternally greatful for whatever Krishna give and didn't give me and all of you who really love and appreciate me must appreciate my perspective as well... Art is subjective and I truly believe that the jury did their best.... I wish everyone the best Hare Krishna," she noted on Instagram.

After her short film Ek Duaa, helmed by Ram Kamal Mukherjee, received a special mention in the Non-Feature Film category, actor and producer Esha Deol took to social media to share her happiness over the honour.

"Over the moon as my film EK DUAA has won at the 69th NATIONAL AWARDS. As a producer & actor in this film to get this recognition in the non-feature special mention award means the world to me. The subject of our film is about female foeticide, save the girl child & for this to get recognition at the National awards is so overwhelming. I want to thank everyone & specially my fans for their love support prayers & duaas," she noted.

"Congratulations to the entire team of Ek Duaa & specially my director Ramkamal Mukerjee for making this film together with me .
Much love & gratitude," she added.

The winners of the 69th National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Center in New Delhi on Thursday.

The ceremony, which will be held at a future date, honoured the best Indian films produced across languages in the calendar year 2021. Feature and non-feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, were eligible for contention. Check out full list of winners at the 69th National Film Awards here

Shoojit Sircar’s biographical historical drama Sardar Udham won several awards at the 69th National Film Awards. Apart from being named the Best Hindi Film, it also bagged Best Cinematography (Avik Mukhopadhyay), Best Audiography (Sinoy Joseph), Best Production Design (Dmitrii Malich and Mansi Dhruv Mehta) and Best Costume Design (Veera Kapur Ee) awards.

In an exclusive chat with The Indian Express following the big wins, Shoojit Sircar dedicated the awards to late actor Irrfan Khan. "I didn't expect five awards. But I think it's quite humbling actually and I am feeling quite proud and it's prestigious and on my behalf, and my producer friend Ronnie's (Ronnie Screwvala) behalf and Sheel Kumar and the entire crew, and also on Vicky's (Vicky Kaushal) behalf. I really want to dedicate this National Award to Irrfan Khan, he was supposed to perform as Sardar Uddham."

"I think this is a huge respect, national recognition is a huge respect for the film. I think a film like this, about a revolutionary, I think this kind of respect makes it more reachable for people to watch it, so they can really see who this revolutionary was and the freedom that we are enjoying today, there are so many unknown revolutionaries who did what they had to do during our pre independence movement," he added.

Following her big wins at the 69th National Film Awards, wherein she bagged the awards for Best Screenplay (Adapted) and Best Dialogues for the film Gangubai Kathiawadi, Utkarshini Vashishtha spoke to The Indian Express and shared her joy.

"I can't begin to express in mere words the magnitude of this moment! I am a proud Indian from a family of freedom fighters, and to get this honour is the proudest moment of my life," Utkarshini told The Indian Express.

At the 69th National Film Awards, Nikhil Mahajan won the award for Best Director for Marathi film Godavari. Starring Neena Kulkarni, Jitendra Joshi and Vikram Gokhale, the film tells the story of a family living on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik.

Heaping praise on Alia Bhatt for bagging the Best Actress Award, director SS Rajamouli, with whom she worked in RRR, noted on Twitter: "Gangu chaand thi, aur chaand hi rahegi… ??"

"Congratulations to our Seetha, @aliaa08 for winning the coveted prize for Gangubai Kathiawadi," he added.

The Kashmir Files won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration at the 69th National Film Awards.

After the win, the film's director Vivek Agnihotri spoke to The Indian Express and said: "I am in America and I got this news early in the morning when my phone started ringing, that's when I came to know that The Kashmir Files has won the 69th National Award. The National Film award is India's most prestigious award. On winning the award, I have always said that The Kashmir Files was never my film, it is the people's film, I am just the medium."

"The terrorism that Kashmiris -- Kashmiri Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims, have face, the film is their voice. It has voiced their pain, which the whole world has heard now, we worked day in and day out to take it to the world and now the National Award has validated our hard work. I, and my production house dedicate this victory to all the victims of terrorism especially the Kashmiri Hindus, and to every Indian who has been a victim of terrorism," he added.

The global sensation SS Rajamouli's RRR also won prestigious honours at the 69th National Film Awards. While MM Keeravaani was named the Best Music Director (Background Score), V Srinivas Mohan won the award for Best Special Effects, Prem Rakshith for Best Choreography, Kaala Bhairava for Best Male Playback Singer (Song: Maayava Chaayavaa), and King Soloman for Best Action Direction (Stunt Choreography).

The film also bagged the Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

After the film's major wins, director SS Rajamouli noted on Twitter: "It’s a SIXERRR… Congratulations to the entire team of RRR on winning national awards. Thanks to the jury for the recognition.. Bhairi, Prem Master, Peddanna, Srinivas Mohan garu, Solomon Master ??."

The 69th National Film Awards witnessed Sanjay Leela Bhansali's biographical crime drama Gangubai Kathiawadi bagging several prestigious awards. 

While the film earned Alia Bhatt her first National Film Award for Best Actress, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Utkarshini Vashishtha bagged the award for Best Screenplay (Adapted) for the 2021 film. It also earned Vashishtha and Prakash Kapadia the award for Best Dialogues. 

While Sanjay Leela Bhansali was named the Best Editor for his work in the film, it earned Preetisheel Singh D’souza the award for Best Make-up Artist.

After Shershaah received the Special Jury Award at the 69th National Film Awards, the film's co-producer Karan Johar took to social media to share his immense happiness over the achievement. "What an absolute honour! Extending my deepest gratitude to @mib_india & to the esteemed @official.anuragthakur for recognising our film #Shershaah worthy of the prestigious National Award," he noted.

"You will so rarely find all the right people at the right time - come together with their buzzing creative energies and passion to create something special…that turns into something EXTRAORDINARY! Shershaah was that for us. Thank you for giving us your unabashed love. Yeh dil maange more," Karan added.

Helmed by Vishnuvardhan, and starring Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani in the lead roles, the film depicted the story of Vikram Batra, who was killed in action in the Kargil War of 1999.

After the big win at the 69th National Film Awards, Dheer Momaya, one of the producers of the film Chhello Show (Last Film Show) which won the award for Best Gujarati Film, told The Indian Express: "I thought that my heart was full after getting a nod at the Oscars, but getting recognition on home soil just hits differently." 

"Especially at the National Awards. Getting not one but two is just fantastic. We are most happy and excited for young Bhavin Rabari, who has put his heart and soul into creating the most nuanced performance for Chhello Show," Momaya added.

Chhello Show also garnered Bhavin Rabari the award for Best Child Artist.

This film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards and subsequently got Shortlisted in the category.

Remembering his father, who passed away recently, after receiving the Best Supporting Actor award for the film Mimi, Pankaj Tripathi told The Indian Express: "This is unfortunately a period of loss and grieving for me. If Babuji was around, he would have been really happy for me. When I first got the National Award mention, he was very proud and pleased."

"This National Award I dedicate to him and his spirit. I’m who I’m today because of him. I’m in loss of words due to this time but I’m happy and grateful to the team. Kriti also has won the Best Actress, so a huge congratulations to her," he added.

Shoojit Sircar's biographical historical drama Sardar Udham won several awards at the 69th National Film Awards. Apart from being named the Best Hindi Film, it also bagged Best Cinematography (Avik Mukhopadhayay), Best Audiography (Sinoy Joseph), Best Production Design (Dmitrii Malich and Mansi Dhruv Mehta) and Best Costume Design (Veera Kapur Ee) awards.

While Shahi Kabir won the award for Screenplay Writer (Original) for the Malayalam film Nayattu, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Utkarshini Vashishtha shared the Screenplay Writer (Adapted) award for the film Gangubai Kathiawadi. Utkarshini Vashishtha and Prakash Kapadia, meanwhile, bagged the award for Dialogue Writer for Gangubai.

After bagging the award for the Best Music Director for the Telugu film Pushpa, composer Devi Sri Prasad spoke to The Indian Express and expressed his immense happiness over the achievement.

"I would like to thank my director Sukumar sir, the producer, my friend and brother Allu Arjun, and my team. Getting an award, that too for such music is a surreal feeling. I thank the people for accepting and loving the music. Sometimes you get commercial success but not an award or vice versa, but getting both for Pushpa is a gift, I am really really happy. Thanks to everyone for your love. Best Telugu film -- Open House -- also I did the music," he told The Indian Express.

On sharing the honour with Keeravani, DSP said: "First of all, we were expecting the award as they won an Oscar also. Despite that Pushpa and RRR have won in the music category, it is a big honour. Keeravani sir got the award for best background score, big congratulations to him, to Rajamouli sir and the entire RRR team, Jr NTR and (Ram) Charan. Pushpa won for the songs, I am very grateful for it."

"I am all the more happy now," he noted while talking about Allu Arjun bagging the award for Best Actor, adding: "Best Telugu film Open House also I composed the music."

The Kashmir Files won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration at the 69th National Film Awards. Helmed by Vivek Agnihotri, the film stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Pallavi Joshi and Chinmay Mandlekar in key roles.

While Allu Arjun was named as the Best Actor for the film Pushpa, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon shared the award for Best Actress for the film Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi.

Pallavi Joshi (The Kashmir Files) and Pankaj Tripathi (Mimi) have been named Best Supporting Actors.

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been named the Best Editor for the film Gangubai Kathiawadi. He himself directed the film.

Devi Sri Prasad has been named the Best Music Director for the film Pushpa, starring Allu Arjun in the lead role.