The National Film Awards 2024, one of the most prestigious and awaited events in the Indian film industry, is set to recognize and honor the best talent across Indian cinema. Organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the National Film Awards celebrate excellence in films, encouraging filmmakers, actors, and technicians across different regional and language sectors of India.
Background of the National Film Awards
Established in 1954, the National Film Awards have since evolved into a comprehensive platform that includes not only the mainstream Hindi film industry but also diverse regional films. It highlights India's rich cinematic culture, celebrating films in languages as varied as Assamese, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, and more.
The awards are broadly divided into three categories:
- Feature Films - Recognizing the best in full-length cinema across genres and languages.
- Non-Feature Films - Acknowledging the best short films, documentaries, and experimental cinema.
- Best Writing on Cinema - Honoring critics, writers, and authors who contribute to the field of cinema through their writings.
Key Highlights of National Film Awards 2024
The 2024 edition promises to be as monumental as ever, with numerous films, filmmakers, actors, and technicians vying for the top honors. Here’s what the 2024 awards might look like:
Best Feature Film: The most coveted award of the evening, the Best Feature Film recognizes the finest film of the year, chosen for its overall cinematic excellence, storytelling, direction, acting, and technical craftsmanship.
Best Director: A category that celebrates the ingenuity and creativity of the best director. Past winners in this category include some of the greats of Indian cinema, and the 2024 edition is expected to see some tough competition.
Best Actor (Male & Female): These awards honor the top performances of the year. Given the growing talent pool in Indian cinema, including Bollywood and regional industries, the fight for this category will likely see performances from critically acclaimed stars across different languages.
Best Cinematography, Editing, and Music Direction: These technical awards recognize the unseen heroes behind the camera. Indian films, which are often known for their stunning visuals and rich soundtracks, will again put forth tough contenders.
Best Regional Films: India is known for its incredible diversity, and regional films often offer stories, cultures, and themes unique to their languages and regions. This category recognizes the best films in languages like Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and many others.
Special Jury Awards: These awards are presented to recognize special achievements in filmmaking, acting, or technical prowess that may not fall into traditional categories.
Regional Representation and Diversity
One of the hallmarks of the National Film Awards is its inclusivity. While Bollywood (Hindi film industry) often garners much attention, the awards ensure equal representation and focus on films from every part of the country. With the growing popularity of regional cinema globally, the competition in regional categories, such as Best Tamil Film, Best Malayalam Film, or Best Assamese Film, will likely be intense.
In recent years, Marathi cinema and Malayalam cinema have produced critically acclaimed films that have transcended regional boundaries, making them strong contenders for the top honors. Meanwhile, Kannada cinema has seen a resurgence with films like "Kantara" and "KGF," which could potentially see sequels or newer works getting recognition at the 2024 awards.
Potential Contenders
Several films and performances from 2023 have already made their mark on the box office and among critics. Some of the films expected to compete include:
"Jawan" and "Pathaan" (Hindi): These massive commercial successes not only made waves at the box office but were praised for their direction and performances, particularly by Shah Rukh Khan.
"The Kerala Story" (Hindi): With its politically charged narrative, it may feature prominently in the discussion, even amidst controversy.
"Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani" (Hindi): A family drama directed by Karan Johar, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, is expected to compete in major categories.
"Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai" (Hindi): Manoj Bajpayee’s strong performance in this legal drama makes him a contender for Best Actor.
Regional Films: Recent hits like "2018" (Malayalam), "Kantara" (Kannada), and "Vaalvi" (Marathi) are likely to receive attention across multiple categories, reflecting the growing dominance of regional industries.
Non-Feature Films and Writing on Cinema
While feature films dominate the limelight, the National Film Awards also emphasize short films, documentaries, and writings on cinema. These categories give space to experimental filmmakers, independent voices, and authors who enrich cinema through critical analysis, reflection, and celebration. The 2024 edition will also bring forward the work of these creators.
The Significance of the National Film Awards
The National Film Awards hold a distinct place in Indian cinema as they are government-sponsored and carry an official recognition. Unlike commercial film awards, they are considered more prestigious and authentic, free from commercial bias and influenced by pure artistic merit. The winners are selected by a national panel of judges, making the process more transparent and competitive.
National Film Awards 2024 - Results
Best Film: Aattam (Malayalam)
Best Debut Film: Fouja (Haryanvi)
Best Film providing wholesome entertainment: Kantara (Kannada)
Best Feature Film promoting national, social, and environmental values: Kutch Express (Gujarati)
Best Film in AVGC: Brahmastra Part 1 (Hindi)
Best Director: Sooraj Barjatya - Uunchai (Hindi)
Best Actor in Leading Role: Nithya Menen - Thiruchitrambalam (Tamil), Manasi Parekh - Kutch Express (Gujarati), Rishab Shetty - Kantara (Kannada)
Best Actor in Supporting Role: Neena Gupta - Uunchai (Hindi), Pavan Raj Malhotra - Fouja (Gujarati)
Best Child Artiste: Sreepath - Malikappuram (Malayalam)
Crew awards
Best Action Direction: Anbariv - KGF Chapter 2 (Kannada)
Best Choreography: Jani Master, Sathish Krishnan - Thiruchitrambalam (Megham Karukatha) (Tamil)
Best Lyrics: Naushad Sadar Khan - Fouja (Salaami) (Gujarati)
Best Music Direction: Pritham (songs) - Brahmastra Part 1 (Hindi), AR Rahman (background music) - Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 (Tamil)
Best Makeup: Somnath Kundu - Aparajito (Bengali)
Best Costume Design: Niki Joshi - Kutch Express (Gujarati)
Best Production Design: Ananda Addhya - Aparajito (Bengali)
Best Editing: Mahesh Bhuvanend - Aattam (Malayalam)
Best Sound Design: Anand Krishnamoorthi - Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 (Tamil)
Best Screenplay: Anand Ekarshi (screenplay writer) - Aattam (Malayalam), Arpita Mukherjee and Rahul V Chittella (dialogues) - Gulmohar (Hindi)
Best Cinematography: Ravi Varman - Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 (Tamil)
Best Playback Singer: Bombay Jayshree - Saudi Vellakka CC 225/2009 (Chaayum Veyil) (Malayalam), Arijit Singh - Brahmastra Part 1 (Kesariya) (Hindi)
Regional films win big
Best Tiwa Film: Sikaisal
Best Telugu Film: Karthikeya 2
Best Tamil Film: Ponniyin Selvan Part 1
Best Punjabi Film: Baghi Di Dhee
Best Odia Film: Daman
Best Malayalam Film: Saudi Vellakka CC 225/2009
Best Marathi Film: Vaalvi
Best Kannada Film: KGF Chapter 2
Best Hindi Film: Gulmohar
Best Bengali Film: Kaberi Antardhan
Best Assamese Film: Emuthi Puthi
Special Mentions
Manoj Bajpayee (actor) - Gulmohar (Hindi)
Sanjay Salil Chowdhury (music director) - Kadhikan (Malayalam)
Non-Feature Categories
Best Non-Feature Film: Ayena
Best Debut Film: Madhyantara
Best Biographical/Historical/Compilation Film: Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro
Best Arts/Culture Film: Ranga Vibhoga/Varsa
Best Script: Mono No Aware
Best Narrator: Murmurs of the Jungle
Best Music Direction: Fursat
Best Editing: Madhyantara
Best Sound Design: Yaan
Best Cinematography: Mono No Aware
Best Direction: From the Shadow
Best Short Film: Xunyota
Best Animated Film: The Coconut Tree
Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values: On the Brink Season 2 – Gharial
Best Documentary: Murmurs of the Jungle
Film Writing
Best Critic: Deepak Dua
Best Book on Cinema: Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography
Conclusion
The National Film Awards 2024 will once again shine a spotlight on India’s incredible cinematic talent. With hundreds of films produced across multiple languages, the competition will be fierce, and it will be a celebration of not just Indian cinema’s commercial success but also its artistic depth and diversity.
From big-budget Bollywood blockbusters to heartwarming regional dramas, the awards will reflect the essence of Indian cinema, marking a year of creativity, storytelling, and cinematic brilliance. Keep an eye on the National Film Awards 2024 for memorable moments and outstanding achievements in the world of Indian cinema.
