National Film Awards Live Updates: Waheeda Rehman got emotional as she accepted Dadasaheb Phalke Award. (Photo: Doordarshan/YouTube)69th National Film Awards Ceremony Live Updates: The 69th National Film Awards ceremony, honouring the best that Indian cinema had to offer in the year 2021, is being held at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The winners, whose names were announced earlier in September, will be honoured by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. The Press Information Bureau live-streamed the ceremony on its social media channels.
The National Awards are running a year behind schedule because of pandemic-related delays. Among the winners are actors Allu Arjun, who won the Best Actor award for the film Pushpa: The Rise, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon, who shared the award for Best Actress for their films, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi respectively. Rocketry: The Nambi Effect won the award for Best Feature Film. The Kashmir Files won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration at the 69th National Film Awards.
Shoojit Sircar’s historical drama Sardar Udham also won several 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.
Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman will also be receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, had announced the award In September. He posted, “At a time when the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has been passed by Parliament, her (Rehman) being awarded with this lifetime achievement award is a fitting tribute to one of the leading ladies of Indian cinema…”
In her speech at the Nation Film Awards, President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Waheeda Rehman for her Dada Saheb Phalke Award win. She said, "I congratulate all the winners and appreciate all the people whose efforts helped you in your achievement. I am very happy to present the Dada Saheb Phalke Award to Waheeda Rehman. I congratulate her. She has made a place for herself with her talent. In her personal life too, she made an identity with dignity and self-confidence. I have been told that she refused to change her name for the sake of working in films, which was trend at that time. She selected roles that broke many stereotypes. Waheeda ji has set a example that for women empowerment, women have to come forward."
The President also congratulated Pallavi Joshi, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon for portraying roles of strong women on screen.
Alia Bhatt's mother, Soni Razdan, and sister, Shaheen Bhatt, took to Instagram to congratulate the actor on her National Award win. Soni wrote, "Congratulations my darling @aliaabhatt on your National Award … it’s all due to your hard work and dedication to your craft. Such a proud moment for us all truly. May your tribe increase! Gratitude and love."Shaheen Bhatt also shared Alia's video from the ceremony and wrote, "Bursting with more pride than I knew I could feel. This moment represents more than professional success - it’s a reflection of your values and every hard-won quality that makes you who you are @aliaabhatt. Best. Day."
In her speech after winning Dadasaheb Phalke award, Waheeda Rahman said, 'I feel very honoured and very humble. Aaj jis mukaam pe main khadi hu, ye saara meri pyaari indusry ki vajah se hain. Mujhe luckily bahut ache top directors, producers, filmmakers, technicians, dialogue writers, music directors aur sangeetkaar, sabka bahut sahara pyaar mila, bahut izzat di, bahut pyaar diya. (I am standing here because of all the love film industry has given me. I was lucky to work with top directors, producers, filmmakers, technicians, dialogue writers, music directors and singers. They gave me a lot of love and respect).
She added, 'Akhiri mein, makeup artists, hair aur costume banane walon ka bhi bahut haath hota hain. Isliye main ye award apne film industry ke saare department ke saath share karna chahti hoon. Unhone mujhe shuru din se izzat di, pyaar diya aur bahut support kiya. Koi bhi ek insaan, ek poori picture nahi bana sakta. Un sabko hum sabki zaroorat hoti hai (In the end, I also want to thank the make up artist and costume designers. They played a major role. I want to share this award with all the departments of the film industry. One person can't make a whole film, we all have to work together).'
SS Rajamouli accepted the Best Popular Film National Award for his film RRR. The blockbuster has bagged six National Awards this year.
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated all the winners of the 69th National Film Awards.
Kriti Sanon was overjoyed as she accepted her National Film Award from the President of India.
Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman got emotional as she received a standing ovation at the National Film Awards ceremony.
Actor Allu Arjun received his first National Film Award for his performance in Pushpa.
Actor Alia Bhatt accepted the National Film Award for her performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi. Her actor-husband Ranbir cheered for her and recorded the moment on his phone.
Shershaah director Vishnuvardhan and producer Karan Johar accepted the National Film Awards from the President of India.
Actor Allu Arjun recorded a video on his phone as Devi Shri Prasad won the Best Music Director award for his work in Pushpa.
SS Rajamouli cheered for the RRR team as they accepted their National Film Awards. MM Keeravaani and Rakshit Shetty accepted awards for Best Music Direction (Background Music) and Best Choreography, respectively.
Producer Sheel Kumar accepts the Best Hindi Film Award for Vicky Kaushal-starrer Sardar Udham.
Anurag Thakur congratulated Waheeda Rehman on winning the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, "Waheeda ji, congratulations on behalf of the entire country." He said that the veteran star has inspired actors of many generations with her work.
The Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur spoke highly of the President of India Draupadi Murmu and thanked her for honouring the winners of the 69th National Film Awards. He also thanked the Indian film industry for entertaining people even during the coronavirus pandemic. He also requested to not divide the film industry into regions.
Alia Bhatt looked gorgeous as she arrived to receive the National Film Award with her actor-husband Ranbir Kapoor.
The President of India, Draupadi Murmu has arrived to honour the winners of the 69th National Film Awards.
The first National Film Award was conferred to the late legendary actor Nargis.
The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri walked the red carpet at the National Film Awards with his actor-wife Pallavi Joshi.
Actor-filmmaker R Madhavan, who wrote, produced and directed, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect bagged the best feature film honour at the 69th National Film Awards. The actor-director gave credit to the team for the big win, "I will be unfair in saying that it is my film. It is a film about Mr Nambi Narayanan and it is done by the team of Rocketry. So, I feel very elated that we are being recognised for our efforts. The greatest happiness is the recognition that Nambi Narayanan sir is getting. He is becoming a household name and that is the power of art and for that, I am very grateful." Sharing how Narayanan reacted to the film's win, he said, "When you see a child-like smile on an 80-year-old man's face, that is a blessing in itself and it's truly deserved."
The National Film Awards ceremony began with a look at the films which made it to the winners' list. The awards will be conferred by President Draupadi Murmu.
Pankaj Tripathi expressed his happiness in winning his second National Film Award as he said, "This is my second National Film Award. I am very happy. I was just working hard in life and everything else followed."
Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman, who reached Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan to accept the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, shared, "I am so happy and grateful. I had a wonderful journey and I am thankful that I could reach this milestone in life."
Allu Arjun expressed his happiness on winning the Best Actor award and said, "I am extremely happy that I am receiving this award. It's a double achievement for me to receive it for a commercial film." As he moved to attend the ceremony, Allu Arjun did the signature move of Pushpa.
On the red carpet of the National Film Award, Kriti Sanon said, "To win a National Award within the first decade (of your career) is a very big thing. I am really fortunate and blessed that I got an opportunity like Mimi. Sometimes you do not get to play such a layered character easily. I am really blessed and fortunate that my director and producer felt that I could do it. Just feeling very elated today. I definitely knew Mimi is going to be a special film. I was very passionate about this one. When we were filming Mimi, Laxman Utekar used to tell me, "You will win a National Award for this."
Karan Johar, who produced the 2021 film, Shershaah, spoke on the red carpet and shared his happiness of winning the National Film Award. He shared, "We are humbled, honoured and privileged to be here. Personally, it's been an exciting year. I completed 25 years in the industry, In 1998 my first film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai released, which also won the National Award for the Wholesome and Popular Entertainer of the Year. 25 years later, I am back here, what more can I ask for? I just feel very humbled and overwhelmed."
Speaking on the red carpet of the 69th National Film Awards, SS Rajamouli said, "I am a filmmaker who makes films for the audience and that is my first aim. Awards are just like a bonus but when you get 6 National Awards for your film, we feel very very happy." Recalling the fondest memory from the days when RRR was released, Rajamouli added, "We always remember the first day of our film's release. There was a lot of anxiety and fear, but as the appreciation started pouring in...no one can forget the first few hours of release.."
RRR stunt director, King Soloman, thanked filmmaker SS Rajamouli on the red carpet of the National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi. He said, "I feel great and excited. God has given me a great opportunity. It is a great thing, Rajamouli sir gave me a great opportunity and he is my all and everything."
Kriti Sanon, in one of her interviews, revealed that she promptly reached out to Alia Bhatt after she was announced the joint winner of the National Film Award (Best Actress) with Alia. “I’ve always admired Alia as an actor and she was phenomenal in Gangubai Kathiawadi. We’ve both played the title role in our respective films and it’s a proud moment to be sharing this prestigious award with her! I called her up and both of us were just too excited,” she told News18.
Waheeda Rehman recently shared her reaction to being conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. She told Doordarshan, "I thought all the awards that I had to receive in my lifetime, I have received and there is nothing left. Also, I haven't done any film in the past 10-12 years. So, when Anurag Thakur told me (about winning the award), I went quiet for some time. I told him I haven't worked in the recent times. He said, 'This is for the work you have done in the past so many years. We are giving you and you just accept it.'"
Filmmaker Sajin Baabu, a jury member of the South panel for the 69th National Film Awards, has accused the organisers of denying him an invitation to the awards ceremony, which will take place in the national capital on Tuesday. As per The Hindu report, he is being ignored because he highlighted a procedural lapse on the part of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), violating the NFA Rules of Submission, in a Facebook post recently.
The winners of the 69th National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Center in New Delhi in September. Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon jointly won the National Film Award in the Best Actress category. Telugu actor Allu Arjun was named the Best Actor for his film Pushpa: The Rise’. R Madhavan’s Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, based on the life of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayan, was adjudged the Best Feature Film. Read the complete list of winners here.
Ranbir Kapoor was spotted reaching Mumbai's Kalina airport along with his wife Alia Bhatt. Alia will be receiving the National Film Award in the Best Actress category for her performance in Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Filmmaker SS Rajamouli and music composer MM Keeravaani, who have won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment (RRR) and Best Music Director (RRR) award, respectively, also reached Delhi on Monday.
Karan Johar and Apurva Mehta were spotted at the Mumbai airport as they left for Delhi to attend the National Award ceremony. Their film Shershaah, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, won the Special Jury Award at the 69th National Awards.
Actor Allu Arjun reached Delhi on Monday to attend the 69th National Film Awards ceremony. He was accompanied by his wife Sneha Reddy at the airport. He won the award for his portrayal of a red sandalwood smuggler named Pushpa in Pushpa: The Rise.
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, who will be receiving the National Film Award in the Best Actress category, was spotted at Mumbai’s Kalina airport on Tuesday. She looked pretty in her white suit.
The 69th National Film Awards’ ceremony will take place at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital on Tuesday. The ceremony will be streamed live on Doordarshan at 1.30 pm.