Ajay Devgn and Suriya win big at the 68th National Film Awards. The winners of the 68th National Film Awards were announced on Friday.
Talking about the awards, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told news agency ANI, “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 the National Film Awards. A word of appreciation for everyone who has done an outstanding job.”
I am delighted to receive the 68th National Film Awards report presented by the jury members.
•Sh Vipul Shah, Chair Feature Film Jury
•Sh Chitrartha Singh, Chair Non Feature Jury
•Sh Anant Vijay, Chair Best Writing of Cinema
•Sh Priyadarshanand,Chair Most Film Friendly State pic.twitter.com/HhdsSp12g6— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) July 22, 2022
Filmmaker Vipul Shah, who headed the jury for the feature film category, told ANI, “It has been heartening to see the kind of response that was received and the number of films that we got to see. And these were very difficult Covid times during which these films were either made or being made.”
The jury for the non-feature film category was headed by Chitrartha Singh and the Best Writing on Cinema category is chaired by journalist Anant Vijay.
Singh said, “We have been able to review close to 140 non-feature films including documentaries and it is amazing to see the kind of content that has come forth, especially from areas like the North East.”
Actor Sibi Sathyaraj congratulated Suriya for winning Best Actor award and wished that he wins many more global awards. He tweeted, "Heartfelt Congrats to Dear @Suriya_offl Anna, for winning the #NationalFilmAward for #SooraraiPottru. TBH,I have been looking forward for it since #Nandha. Sincerely hope that this serves as a start for you to conquer many more global awards. Appa conveys his wishes too!?????."
R Madhavan also congratulated Ajay Devgn on his National Award for Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero. He tweeted, "@ajaydevgn
Congratulations on the much deserved National award sir .. so so happy for you . Aweosmeeeee."
Actor R Madhavan wrote on Twitter, "@Suriya_offl THATS MY BRO… CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NATIONAL AWARD for #Sooraraipottru… Heart swells with pride bro .. ??????????????."
Superstar Mammootty congratulates all the winners of the 68th national Film Awards. He tweeted, "Congrats to all the winners of #68thNationalFilmAwards. Absolutely proud to see Malayalam Cinema standing tall among the list of Winners. Proud of @Aparnabala2, Biju Menon, Senna Hegde, Nanchiyamma, and all the other deserved winners. Proudly Remembering #Sachy on this special moment."
Toolsidas Junior won the National Award for Best Hindi Film. Sanjay Dutt, who was a part of the film, congratulated the team and wrote on Twitter, "#ToolsidasJunior will always be special... Grateful for having been a part of this masterpiece. Congratulations to the entire team ??".
Keerthy Suresh wrote on Twitter, "Congratulations @Musicthaman for winning the Best music director award at the 68th National Film Awards! Cheers to many more ??? #AlaVaikunthapurramuloo." Thaman S won the National Award for Best Music Direction (Songs) for the 2020 Telugu film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.
Kajol, who also starred in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, is proud as the movie has grabbed three national awards. Sharing a behind-the-scene photo of herself with her husband Ajay Devgn, Kajol wrote, "Team Tanhaji wins 3 national awards. So happy and proud ! Best Actor @ajaydevgn Best Popular film providing Wholesome Entertainment @omraut Best Costume @nachiketbarve #TanhajiTheUnsungWarrior."
Madonne Ashwin has won the National Film Award for Best Debut Director and Best Dialogues at the 68th National Film Awards for his film Mandela. Talking to indianexpress.com about the win, Ashwin said, “We had little hope about winning a National Film Award. Honestly, two awards for the film were unexpected. I am so happy that a small film like Mandela, which was only released on an OTT platform, has received such a response.” Read more
Congratulating the team of Tamil drama Soorarai Pottru, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar tweeted, "Over the moon to see #SooraraiPottru win the top honours at the National Awards. Heartfelt congratulations my brother @Suriya_offl, #AparrnaBalamurali and my director #SudhaKongara. Humbled to be working in the Hindi adaptation of such an iconic film ??"
Mohanlal took to Twitter to congratulate all the winners of the 68th National Awards. He wrote on Twitter, "Heartiest congratulations to all national film award winners, especially the Best Actors, Suriya, Ajay Devgan and Aparna Balamurali, and Biju Menon and Nanjiamma, on this well-deserved recognition! Also, proudly remembering dear Sachy for winning the Best Director Award."
Music director Thaman S expressed his happiness on winning the National Award for Best Music Direction (Songs) for the 2020 Telugu film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo on Twitter. He wrote, "My dear #ICON STAR ?? @alluarjun gaaru The day One of #AVPL Music It was that Great energy from day One ? thanks dear #Bunny gaaru #68thNationalFilmAwards for #AlaVaikunthapurramuloo Music ?? Yayyyyyy !!! WE MADE IT ???."
Music director Vishal Bhardwaj won the award for Best Music Direction in the Non-Feature Film category. He won the award for the song "Marenge toh vahin ja kar" in Vinod Kapri's documentary film 1232 KMS. It chronicles the plight of the migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Elated about his big win, Bhardwaj said, "I’m so happy to get an award for the film which represents and acknowledges the pain that the whole country and especially the migrant workers went through in the Covid-19 pandemic. The song was actually a poem that Gulzar Saab wrote to express the suffocated feelings of not being able to do anything to help the migrants. It was a catharsis for both of us which we expressed through Sukhwinder’s voice in Vinod Kapri’s heart wrenching documentary 1232 KMs."
The jury announced on Friday that the Dadasaheb Phalke Award will be announced at a separate meet later.
Dhanust wrote on Twitter, "A big congratulations to all the national award winners. Especially @Suriya_offl sir and my good friend
@gvprakash A big day for Tamil cinema. Super proud."
Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran congratulated the action team of his film Ayyapanum Koshiyum for winning the National Award for Best Stunt Choreography. He also remembered the film's director Sachy who passed away in 2020 as he was awarded the Best Direction award. Prithviraj tweeted, "Congratulations Biju chettan, Nanjiamma, and the entire action team of Ayyapanum Koshiyum. And Sachy..I don’t know what to say man... Wherever you are..I hope you’re happy…coz I’m proud of you..and will be forever! ???"
Music director GV Prakash penned a note on Twitter after winning the National Award for Best Music Direction (Background Music) for the Tamil drama Soorarai Pottru. He wrote, "One day you will make it big .... One day you will win ... one day everything will happen the way you want .... And after a long wait finally the day arrives ... Thank you universe , thank you all ...Big thanks to my father Venkatesh and my entire family including Saindhavi, Bhavani and Anvi for all that they have given me ... big thanks team *sooraraipottru .. director sudha kongara, suriya sir 2D and Rajasekar pandian for giving me the opportunity to perform..Special thanks to all my musicians and my team, engineer producer Jehovahson..an important day in my life with luv, GV."
Ajay Devgn, who won his third National Award, expressed his gratitude towards the film's creative team and also his parents. He said in a statement, "I’m elated to win the Best Actor Award for Tanhaji—The Unsung Warrior at the 68th National Awards along with Suriya who won for Soorarai Pottru. I thank everyone, most of all my creative team, the audience and my fans. I also express my gratitude to my parents & the Almighty for their blessings. Congratulations to all the other winners.’’
Lyricist Manoj Muntashir who won the Best Lyrics award for the movie Saina talked to indianexpress.com after his big win. He said, "When a writer picks up a pen to write for films, this is all he dreams of. I am exhilarated and thankful to the jury."
The winners of the 68th National Film Awards were announced today in New Delhi. For the complete list of winners, click here.
Nachiket Barve and Mahesh Sherla won the award for Best Costume Designer for the period drama Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero.
GV Prakash won the National Award for Best Music Direction (Background Music) for the Tamil drama Soorarai Pottru.
Music director Thaman S won the award for Best Music Direction (Songs) for the 2020 Telugu film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.
The National Award for the Best Children's Film is won by the Marathi film Sumi, helmed by Amol Vasant Gole.
The National Award for Best Direction goes to Sachidanandan KR for the 2020 Malayalam film Ayyappanum Koshiyum.
Aparna Balamurali who played the lead role in the Tamil drama Soorarai Pottru won the National Award for Best Actress.
Actor Biju Menon won the National Award for Best Supporting Actor for the movie Ayyappanum Koshiyum.
The National Award for Best Actor was shared by actor Suriya (Soorarai Pottru) and Ajay Devgn (Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero)
Lyricist Manoj Muntashir won the National Award for Best Lyrics for the movie Saina.
Best Dimasa Film: Sekmkhor
Best Tulu Film: Jeetige
Best Telugu Film: Colour Photo
Best Tamil Film: Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum
Best Malayalam Film: Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam
Best Kannada Film: Dollu
Best Hindi Film: Toolsidas Junior
Best Bengali Film: Avijatrik
Best Assamese Film: Bridge
Best Music Direction: Vishal Bhardwaj for Marenge toh Vahin Jaa Kar
Best cinematography: Nikhil S Praveen for Shabdikunna Kalappa
Best investigative film: The Saviour: Brig. Pritam Singh
Best Exploration Film: Wheeling The Ball
Best Educational Film: Dreaming of Words (Malayalam)
Best Film on Social Issues: Justice Delayed But Delivered and Three Sisters
Best Promotional Film: Surmounting Challenges
Best Biographical film: Pabung Syam (Manipuri)
Best Non-Feature Film: Testimony of Ana (Dangi)
The award for the most film-friendly state goes to Madhya Pradesh. The jury of the category was headed by Priyadarshan. 13 states of the country applied in the category.
You can watch the National Film Awards announcement live on Press Information Bureau's official YouTube channel and Facebook page.
The 68th National Awards will soon be announced. Last year, the awards were only announced but not presented physically at a ceremony due to coronavirus.