The much-awaited 69th National Film Awards were unveiled during a live-streamed press conference held in Delhi, with the Press Information Bureau (PIB) broadcasting the event on their Facebook and YouTube platforms. The awards ceremony recognized exceptional achievements in Indian cinema across various categories, honoring the finest talents and their outstanding contributions.
In the Feature Film category, a diverse range of films garnered accolades. The winners included:
- Best Mishing Film: “Boomba Ride”
- Best Assamese Film: “Anur”
- Best Bengali Film: “Kalkkoho”
- Best Hindi Film: “Sardar Udham”
- Best Kannada Film: “777 Charlie”
- Best Gujarati Film: “Chello Show”
- Best Maithili Film: “Samanantar”
- Best Marathi Film: “Ekda Kay Zala”
- Best Malayalam Film: “Home”
- Special Jury Award: “Shershaah”
- Best Child Artist: Bhavin Rabari, “Chhello Show”
- Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director: “Meppadiyan,” directed by Vishnu Mohan
- Best Film on Social Issues: “Anunaad: The Resonance”
- Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation: “Aavasavyuham”
- Best Children’s Film: “Gandhi and Co”
- Best Screenplay (Original): Shahi Kabir for “Nayattu”
- Best Screenplay (Adapted): Sanjay Leela Bhansali & Utkarshini Vashishtha for “Gangubai Kathiawadi”
- Best Dialogue Writer: Utkarshini Vashishtha & Prakash Kapadia for “Gangubai Kathiawadi”
- Best Music Director (Songs): Devi Sri Prasad for “Pushpa”
- Best Music Direction (Background Music): MM Keeravaani for “RRR”
- Best Editing: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for “Gangubai Kathiawadi”
- Best Supporting Actress: Pallavi Joshi for “The Kashmir Files”
- Best Supporting Actor: Pankaj Tripathi for “Mimi”
- Best Actress: Alia Bhatt for “Gangubai Kathiawadi,” Kriti Sanon for “Mimi”
- Best Actor: Allu Arjun for “Pushpa: The Rise”
- Best Film on National Integration: “The Kashmir Files”
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: “RRR”
- Best Feature Film: “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect”
The Non-Feature Films category also saw its share of remarkable achievements:
- Several films received special mentions, including “Baale Bangara,” “Karuvarai,” “The Healing Touch,” and “Ek Duaa.”
- Best Narration/Voice Over: Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee for “HatiBondhu”
- Best Music Direction: Ishaan Divecha for “Succulent”
- Best Editing: Abhro Banerjee for “If Memory Serves Me Right”
- Best Production Sound Recordist (Location/Sync Sound): Suruchi Sharma for “Meen Raag”
- Best Audiography (Re-recordist): Unni Krishnan for “Ek Tha Gaon”
- Best Cinematography: Bittu Rawat for “Paatal-Tee”
- Best Direction: Bakul Matiyani for “Smile Please”
- Best Film On Family Values: “Chand Saanse”
- Best Short Fiction Film: “Daal Bhat” (Gujarati)
- Special Jury Award: Rekha (Marathi Film)
- Best Animation Film: “Kandittundu” (Malayalam)
- Best Investigative Film: “Looking For Challan” (English)
- Best Exploration/Adventurous Film: “Ayushman” (English, Kannada)
- Best Educational Film: “Sirpigalin Sirpangal” (Tamil)
- Best Film On Social Issues: “Mithu Di” (Marathi) and “Three Two One” (Marathi & Hindi)
- Best Environmental Film: “Munnam Valavu” (Malayalam)
- Best Promotional Film: “Endangered Heritage ‘Warli Art'”
- Best Science and Technology Film: “Ethos Of Darkness”
- Best Arts/Cultural Film: “T.N. Krishnan Bow Strings To Divine”
In the realm of cinematic literature:
- Best Book on Cinema: “Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal: The Incredibly Melodious Journey” by Rajiv Vijayakar
- Best Film Critic: Purushothama Charyulu
- Best Film Critic (Special Mention): Subramanya Bandoor
The 69th National Film Awards celebrated the vibrancy and creativity of Indian cinema, honoring exceptional talents and their remarkable contributions to the industry.
