Since 1954, The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Generally, the announcements of the recipients of the National Film Awards are made in April, and on May 3 every year, the presentation takes place, but owing to the Lok Sabha polls, it was delayed this time. And, finally, after a phenomenally long wait, the winners of the 66th National Film Awards have been announced.
The announcement of the awards was held at Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi on 9th August. Early that day, the reports concerning awards are submitted by the jury members to Information and Broadcasting Minister with their final recommendations in different categories.
Prakash Javadekar told the media, in which he said,
“They made a lot of efforts for the last two months. I am very sure that they would have picked the best films, the best directors. They will announce that at the press conference today. This is 66th year of film awards and they have become a prestigious institute.”
Jury head Rahul Rawail, Jury head for the best writing Utpal Bhojpuri, and Non-feature film jury head AS Kanal were present at the announcement session.
In the event, a short film inspired by events from the childhood days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ‘Chalo Jeete Hain,’ also won the National Award for the Best non-feature film on family values.
However, it is revealed that A S Kanal, the chairman of the non-feature film jury, had no idea about the film being inspired by PM's childhood. And, they judged it based on its content only.
Mangesh Hadawale, Director of the film, and Mahaveer Jain, producer, in a joint statement, said,
"With extreme gratitude and humility we accept this great honour and dedicate this award to our hard-working and most inspiring Prime Minister Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi."
Besides that, Keerthy Suresh, for her performance in Telugu film Mahanati, has been declared the Best Actress at the 66th National Film Awards. Suresh states that she always wanted to win it for her mother.
Keerthy said,
“My mother was supposed to win the National Award for her first Malayalam movie. She was loved for her role. The movie got 10-11 national awards and she was expecting one. There were last minute changes and it didn’t happen. She always used to talk about it. I thought I should fulfill her dream and that is one of the reasons I got into acting.”
Along with that, Mahanati seized two more National Awards for Best Telugu film (regional) as well as Best Costume.
She added,
“It’s a hat-trick. It’s the hard work of the entire team, especially costumes. A lot of effort has gone behind it.”
Another interesting fact about the event is, this year, there were two winners for the Best Actor award. Yes, Vicky Kaushal was declared the best actor for his work in Uri, and meanwhile, Ayushmann Khurrana also became the joint winner for his performance in AndhaDhun.
Moreover, AndhaDhun directed by Sriram Raghavan received the Best Film (Hindi) award.
Additionally, Bhonga starring Amol Kagne and Kapil Kamble Gudsurkar received the Best Marathi Film National Award, and Baaram was declared as the Best Tamil Film, whereas Hamid was announced as the Best Urdu Film.
Similarly, Rima Das' Bulbul Can Singh bagged Best Assamese Film award.
By winning the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment at National Film Awards 2018, 'Badhaai Ho' starring Ayushmann Khurrana also found itself in the center of all the attraction.
In total, 'Badhaai Ho' has bagged two prestigious awards at the National Film Awards 2018 as veteran actress Surekha Sikri, who played the Dadi, has also won the National Award for the Best Supporting Actress for the film.
Amit Ravindernath Sharma, Director of Badhaai Ho, says,
“This is overwhelming...When we made this film we didn't expect it to receive this reception . It's nothing short of a dream come true to have Chrome's first film production win a National award.”
Meanwhile, many social-media users raised one question of how Vicky Kaushal's Uri win 4 National Film Awards for the year 2018, since the film released in 2019.
For example, one user wrote,
“Hold on, #Uri released this year.. How is it eligible for #NationalFilmAwards already?! 🤷🏽♂️”
Hold on, #Uri released this year.. How is it eligible for #NationalFilmAwards already?! 🤷🏽♂️
— Anuj Radia (@TheAnujRadia) August 9, 2019
But here is the thing. A film needs to have received its certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) from January 1 of that year till December 31 to enter the race for National Film Awards. And, Uri received its certificate on December 31, 2018; hence, it became eligible for the National Awards this year itself.
And the Entire List of 66th National Film Awards Winners is Here:
Most film-friendly state: Uttarakhand
Best book on cinema: Malayalam Book Mano Prarthana Pulley; In A Cult Of Their Own gets Special Mention
Best Film Critic: Blase Johnny (Malayalam), Ananth Vijay (Hindi)
Non-Feature Film Category
Best Film on Family Values: Chalo Jeete Hain
Best Short Fiction Film: Kharvas
Social Justice Film: Why Me
Best Investigation Film: Amoli
Best Sports Film: Swimming Through The Darkness
Best Educational Film: Sarala Virala
Best Film on Social Issue: Taala Te Kunjee
Best Environmental Film: The World's Most Famous Tiger
Best Promotional Film: Rediscovering Jajam
Best Film on Science and Technology: G.D.Naidu : The Edison Of India
Best Arts and Cultural Film: Bunkar: The Last of The Varanasi Weavers
Best Debut Non-Feature Film of a Director: Sagnik Chatterjee for Feluda_50 Years Rays Detective
Best Non-Feature Film: Sunrise, The Secret Life of Frogs
Feature Films:
Actors who got a special mention for their performance: Sruthi Hariharan, Chandrachud Rai, Josy Joseph, Savitri
Best Rajasthani Film: Turtle
Best Pangchenpa Film: In The Land Of Poison Women
Best Garo Film: Ma'ama
Best Marathi Film: Bhonga
Best Tamil Film: Baaram
Best Hindi Film: Andhadhun
Best Urdu Film: Hamid
Best Bengali Film: Ek Je Chhilo Raja
Best Malayalam Film: Sudani From Nigeria
Best Telugu Film: Mahanati
Best Kannada Film: Nathicharami
Best Konkani Film: Amori
Best Assamese Film: Bulbul Can Sing
Best Punjabi Film: Harjeeta
Best Gujarati Film: Reva
Best Choreography: Kruti Mahesh Midya and Jyothi D Tommaar for Ghoomar, Padmaavat
Best Music Director: Padmaavat
Best Special Effect: Awe, KGF
Best Music Direction: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Padmaavat
Best Background Music Award: Uri: The Surgical Strike
Best Makeup Artist: Ranjith for Awe
Best Costume Designer: Rajshree Patnaik, Gaurang Shah and Archana Rao for Mahanati
Best Action: KGF: Chapter 1
Best Lyrics: Nathicharami
Best Production Design: Kammara Sambhavam
Best Editing: Nathicharami
Best Audiography: Tendlya, Uri, and Rangasthalam
Best Sound Design: Uri
Best Mixed Track: Rangasthalam
Best Original Screenplay: Chi La Sow
Best Adapted Screenplay: Andhadhun
Best Dialogue: Tarikh
Best Cinematography: Olu (Malayalam) to MJ Radhakrishnan
Best Female Playback Singer: Bindu Mani for Mayavi Manave from Nathicharami
Best Male Playback Singer: Arijit Singh for Binte Dil from Padmaavat
Best Film on Social Issues: Pad Man
Best Supporting Actress: Surekha Sikri for Badhaai Ho
Best Supporting Actor: Swanand Kirkire for Chumbak
Best Actor: Ayushmann Khurrana, Andhadhun, and Vicky Kaushal, Uri
Best Actress: Keerthy Suresh for Mahanati
Best Direction: Aditya Dhar for Uri
Best Feature Film: Hellaro (Gujarati)
Best Children's Film: Sarkari. Hi. Pra. Shale Kasaragodu, Koduge
Best Child Actors: PV Rohith for Ondalla Eradalla (Kannada), Sameep Singh for Harjeeta (Punjabi), Talha Arshad Reshi for Hamid (Urdu), Shrinivas Pokale for Naal(Marathi)
Best Film on Environment Conservation: Paani
Nargis Dutt Award for National Integration: Ondalla Eradalla
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Badhaai Ho
Jury Awards: Kedara (Bengali), Hellaro (Gujarati)
Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of A Director: Sudhakar Reddy Yakanthi for Naal
A Big Congratulations to All the National Award Winners!
