The 69th National Film Awards are announced at India’s National Media Center in New Delhi amid much expectation. The Jury will announce the 69th National Film Awards at 5 pm today, ending the whispers and intrigue.
Whispered names, Hints are dropping. Social media is full of predictions. Alia Bhatt and Kangana Ranaut are likely Best Actress nominees for ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ and ‘Thalaivi,’ respectively. Malayalam film ‘Nayattu’ and R Madhavan’s ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’ are reportedly strong National Film Awards contenders. Till Thursday evening, these are just whispers in the corridors of speculation.
The channels are clear for those interested in seeing this watershed event. The official PIB India and I&B Ministry social media accounts, including their YouTube and Facebook channels, will live stream the National Film Awards.
In 2020, Suriya for ‘Soorarai Pottru’ and Ajay Devgn for ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ shared the Best Actor Award at the National Film Awards.
The National Film Awards, founded in 1954, have a long history. The Hon’ble President of India presides over this occasion, representing the nation’s film talent. A star-studded night that ends with the public screening of award-winning films, this event is a cultural highlight, especially at the National Film Awards.
They were originally ‘State Awards.’ Only two President’s Gold awards, two certificates of merit, and twelve regional cinema silver awards were awarded in the debut year. National Best Film received one Regional Best Award. But the honors have grown throughout time, reflecting Indian cinema’s evolution in the years leading up to the 69th National Film Honors.
A change was in the air by 1968. The first Best Actress (then called Urvashi) and Best Actor (then called Bharat) Awards were given to Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar. Artists and technicians now have separate awards.
Today, the awards celebrate cinema’s core in three ways. Features, Non-Features, and Best Cinema Writing are categories. The first two reward excellence in numerous categories, whereas the last promotes cinema study and appreciation by facilitating information interchange and critical appreciation.
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