Mohanlal, SRK, Rani Mukerji, Vikrant Massey Honoured at National Awards

President Droupadi Murmu presented the 71st National Film Awards on Tuesday, celebrating Indian cinema’s diversity and talent at a ceremony in Vigyan Bhawan. Malayalam icon Mohanlal received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his five-decade career spanning over 360 films, earning a standing ovation. Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji won their first National Awards for acting in “Jawan” and “Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway”, respectively, while Vikrant Massey shared the best actor award with Khan for “12th Fail”. The event highlighted mainstream cinema’s impact, with loud cheers marking the star-studded occasion.

The awards, announced in August for 2023 releases, recognised a range of achievements. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s “12th Fail” won best film, and Karan Johar’s “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” was honoured for wholesome entertainment. Sudipto Sen took best director for “The Kerala Story”. Hindi cinema dominated major categories, with “Sam Bahadur” earning accolades for promoting national values and “Animal” securing awards for sound design and background music. Regional films shone in supporting roles, with Vijayaraghavan (“Pookalam”) and Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar (“Parking”) sharing best supporting actor, and Urvashi (“Ullozhokku”) and Janki Bodiwala (“Vash”) winning best supporting actress.

President Murmu praised Indian cinema’s pluralism, noting its reflection of diverse languages and cultures. She highlighted women-centric films like “Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway”, saluting filmmakers for portraying strong female narratives. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasised the “Make in India” initiative, announcing plans to manufacture film equipment locally and support a live concert economy. Mohanlal, the youngest Dadasaheb Phalke recipient, dedicated his award to the Malayalam film industry, calling it a tribute to its legacy and resilience.

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Other notable winners included “Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery” as best Hindi film, “Hanu-Man” for best action direction, and “Naal 2” as best children’s film. Technical awards went to “Pookkaalam” for editing and “2018” for production design. Non-feature categories honoured “Flowering Man” as best film and “God Vulture and Human” as best documentary. The ceremony underscored Indian cinema’s vibrancy, blending mainstream and regional storytelling with technical excellence.

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