70th National Film Awards Highlights: Mithun Chakraborty, Rishab Shetty, Nithya Menen honoured by President Droupadi Murmu

After accepting the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty delivered an endearing speech. Taking a trip down memory lane, Mithun said that after receiving his first National Film Award for Mrigayaa (1976), directed by Mrinal Sen, he started thinking that he is as talented as Al Pacino. The actor added that it took a slap from a producer to make him realise that he was no Al Pacino.

Legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty on Tuesday received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award from President Droupadi Murmu during the 70th National Film Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. He was greeted with a standing ovation from the attendees as he accepted the honour.

Ahead of presenting him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, a short film on legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty was played at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi during the 70th National Film Awards ceremony. Besides three National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards, Mithun also earned the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour by the Government of India, in January 2024.

The Malayalam film Aattam, directed by Anand Ekarshi, won the prestigious award for the Best Feature Film at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony. Produced by Ajith Joy, the film stars Zarin Shihab, Vinay Forrt and Kalabhavan Shajohn in the lead roles. Anand, meanwhile, also bagged the award for Best Screenplay. Read our review of Aattam here

Helmer Pramod Kumar won the National Film Award for Best Debut Film of a Director for his Haryanvi movie Fouja.

In one of the most anticipated categories of the evening, actor-director Rishab Shetty received the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Kantara. The action thriller film, produced by Vijay Kiragandur under the banner of Hombale Films, also took home the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

The award for Best Actress in a Leading Role was shared by Nithya Menen for the Tamil film Thiruchitrambalam and Manasi Parekh for the Gujarati film Kutch Express. The two actors received their awards from President Droupadi Murmu at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi.

Actors Neena Gupta and Pavan Malhotra took home the awards for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for their performances in Uunchai (Hindi) and Fouja (Haryanvi).

Ravi Varman won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography for his work in director Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan: I. The film earned a total of four awards during the ceremony.

Mahesh Bhuvanend bagged the award for Best Editing for his work in Aattam. The movie also bagged the award for Best Feature Film.

While addressing the gathering, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the central government is working towards establishing an Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai. He said that the Maharashtra government has already given land for it and other procedures are underway.

Legendary composer AR Rahman accepted the award for Best Music Direction (Background Music) amidst thunderous applauses and cheering from the attendees. He bagged the award for his work in director Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan: I.

Action choreographers Anbumani and Arivumani, jointly known as Anbariv, were presented with the award for Best Action Direction for their work in KGF: Chapter 2. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu. Helmed by Prashanth Neel, KGF: Chapter 2 starred Yash, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Srinidhi Shetty and Prakash Raj in key roles.

Legendary film director, screenwriter and actor Kaushik Ganguly took home the award for Best Bengali Feature Film for his period romantic thriller film Kaberi Antardhan. Ganguly has won four National Awards before this.

Director, producer and screenwriter Mani Ratnam accepted the award for Best Tamil Feature Film for his magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan: I from President Droupadi Murmu at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony.

During the ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu distributed the regional awards in the feature film category as well. While Karthikeya 2 bagged the award for Best Telugu Feature Film, Ponniyin Selvan: I won the award in Tamil. The other winners were Baghi Di Dhee (Punjabi), Daman (Odia), Vaalvi (Marathi), Saudi Vellakka (Malayalam), KGF: Chapter 2 (Kannada), Gulmohar (Hindi), Kaberi Antardhan (Bengali) and Emuthi Puthi (Assamese).

In the Feature Film category, Malayalam film Kadhikan and Hindi film Gulmohar earned the certificates of Special Mention during the ceremony. 

During the 70th National Film Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, director Siddhant Sarin received the award for Best Non-Feature Film for his Ayena. Basti Dinesh Shenoy, meanwhile, bagged the award for Best Debut Film of a Director for his work in Madhyantara.

The Kannada film Ranga Vibhoga and the Marathi film Varsa bagged the awards for Best Arts/Cultural Film in the Non-Feature Film category. Producer-directors of the films Suneel Narasimhachar Puranik and Sachin Balasaheb Suryawanshi, respectively, accepted the awards.

Sohil Vaidya, producer and director of Murmurs of the Jungle, accepted the award for Best Documentary on behalf of the entire team.

Keralite documentary filmmaker and producer based in Mumbai Miriam Chandy Menacherry received Best Direction (Non-Feature Film) for her work in From the Shadows. She also created works like Lyari Notes, The Rat Race and A Light Burns.

Legendary Bollywood filmmaker, music composer and playback singer Vishal Bhardwaj was presented with the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for his work in Fursat. Helmed by Vishal himself, the movie starred Ishaan Khattar, Wamiqa Gabbi and Salman Yusuff Khan.

Koushik Sarkar bagged the award for Best Script (Non-Feature Film) for his work in Mono No Aware. The movie also earned Siddharth Diwan the trophy for Best Cinematography (Non-Feature Film).

The makers of the Assamese films Birubala: Witch to Padmashri and Hargila – The Greater Adjutant Stork were presented with the certificates of Special Mention during the event. The certificates were distributed by the President herself.

The distribution of awards have commenced with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the first award to Deepak Dua for Best Film Critic. The second trophy of the evening (Best Book on Cinema) was presented to Anirudha Bhattacharjee for his book Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography (English).

With his magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan: I emerging as the film that bagged the most number of awards this time, director Mani Ratnam has arrived at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi to take part in the 70th National Film Awards ceremony. The epic action drama film bagged awards for Best Cinematography (Ravi Varman), Best Sound Design (Anand Krishnamoorthi), Best Music Direction - Background Music (AR Rahman) and Best Tamil Feature Film (Madras Talkies). While walking the red carpet, Mani Ratnam expressed joy on receiving the awards

The award for Best Feature Film went to the Malayalam film Aattam, helmed by Anand Ekarshi. The names of the award winners were announced on August 16, 2024, and will be presented today. While Rishab Shetty earned the Best Actor award for his performance in Kantara, the Best Actress award in a Leading Role was shared by Nithya Menen for the Tamil film Thiruchitrambalam and Manasi Parekh for the Gujarati film Kutch Express. Sooraj R Barjatya took home the Best Director award for his work in Uunchai. Check out 70th National Film Awards full winners list here

The 70th National Film Awards ceremony, celebrating the finest in Indian cinema from 2022, has begun with the arrival of President Droupadi Murmu. The event commenced with the national anthem.

While walking the red carpet, actor Rishab Shetty, who won the Best Actor award, spoke to Doordarshan National and expressed his happiness over Kantara winning big. Besides an award for him, Kantara also bagged the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. "I am very happy. Not one, we have won two awards, making the moment even more joyful," he said. Mentioning that Kantara talks about the conflict between nature and human beings, Rishab added, "More regional is more global."

On the red carpet, actor Manoj Bajpayee spoke to Doordarshan National and opened up about his movie Gulmohar, which earned Special Mention in the 70th National Film Awards.

From legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty and Sharmila Tagore to actors Rishab Shetty and Neena Gupta have arrived for the 70th National Film Awards ceremony, turning the event into a star-studded affair. All the attendees walked the red carpet in style.

Welcome to The Indian Express. The 70th National Film Awards ceremony is currently underway at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards to the winners and legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty too will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award during the event. Follow this space for latest updates from the venue.