The 69th National Film Awards honored outstanding contributions to Indian cinema in 2021. From best films to actors, this article covers all the winners and highlights from the prestigious event.
The 69th National Film Awards were a celebration of cinematic excellence, recognizing outstanding achievements in Indian cinema in the year 2021. Hosted at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, the awards ceremony brought together the finest talents from the film industry. From the best films to the most remarkable performances, the event showcased the diversity and brilliance of Indian cinema.
Complete List of Winners at the 69th National Film Awards
Best Feature Film and Actor
The 69th National Film Awards saw the Hindi film “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect” clinching the title of Best Feature Film, while Telugu superstar Allu Arjun won the Best Actor award for his performance in “Pushpa: The Rise (Part I).” These honors underline the outstanding storytelling and acting talents exhibited by these artists.
Best Actress and Supporting Roles
The awards ceremony recognized the incredible talent of Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon, who shared the Best Actress award for their roles in “Gangubai Kathiawadi” and “Mimi,” respectively. Pankaj Tripathi and Pallavi Joshi were lauded as the Best Supporting Actor and Actress for their remarkable performances in “Mimi” and “The Kashmir Files.”
Best Direction and Debut Film
Nikhil Mahajan’s direction in the Marathi film “Godavari” earned him the prestigious award for Best Direction. The Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director was presented to “Meppadiyan,” a Malayalam film that marked a promising debut in filmmaking.
Films Promoting Social Issues and Environment Conservation
Cinema’s power to drive change was recognized with the awards for Best Film on Social Issues and Environment Conservation. “Anunaad-The Resonance” from Assamese cinema and “Aavasavyuham” from Malayalam cinema were applauded for their thought-provoking narratives.
Children’s Films and Music Recognition
Gujarati film “Gandhi&Co.” received the award for Best Children’s Film, with Bhavin Rabari winning Best Child Artist for “Last Film Show (Chhello Show).” The role of music in cinema was acknowledged with awards for Best Male Playback Singer, Kaala Khairava, and Best Female Playback Singer, Shreya Ghoshal.
Language-Specific Awards
The diversity of languages in Indian cinema was celebrated with awards for the Best Film in various languages.
- Best Assamese Film: “Anur (Eyes on the Sunshine)”
- Best Bengali Film: “Kalkokkho – House of Time”
- Best Hindi Film: “Sardar Udham”
- Best Gujarati Film: “Last Film Show (Chhello Show)”
- Best Kannada Film: “Charlie”
- Best Marathi Film: “Ekda Kay Zala”
- Best Malayalam Film: “Home”
- Best Meiteilon Film: “Eikhoigi Yum (Our Home)”
- Best Odia Film: “Pratikshya (The Wait)”
- Best Tamil Film: “Kadaisi Vivasayi (The Last Farmer)”
- Best Telugu Film: “Uppena (Wave)”
A still from the National Award Winner for Best Kannada Film “777 Charlie.”Non-Feature Film Awards:
The awards didn’t just honor feature films; they also recognized excellence in non-feature films. Categories such as Best Narration/Voice-Over, Best Music Direction, and Best Editing highlighted the impressive work done in this category. Notable winners in the non-feature category included “Best Narration/Voice Over” for “HatiBondhu” and “Best Music Direction” for “Succulent,” showcasing diverse creative endeavors beyond conventional filmmaking. Here are other awards in the Non-Feature category:
- Best Film On Family Values: Chand Saanse (Hindi)
- Best Short Fiction Film: Dal Bhat (Gujarati)
- Special Jury Award: Rekha (Marathi)
- Best Animation Film: Kandittundu (Malayalam)
- Best Investigative Film: Looking For Challan (English)
- Best Exploration/Adventure Film(To Include Sports): Ayushman (English, Kannada)
- Best Educational Film: Sirpigalin Sirpangal (Tamil)
- Best Film On Social Issues (Shared)
- Mithu Di (English)
- Three Two One (Marathi & Hindi)
- Best Environment Film Including Agriculture: Munnam Valavu (Malayalam)
- Best Promotional Film: Endangered Heritage “Warli Art” (English)
- Best Science and Technology Film: Ethos Of Darkness (English, partly Hindi & Bengali)
- Best Arts/Cultural Film: T.N. Krishnan Bow Strings To Divine (English)
- Best Biographical/Historical/Reconstruction/Compilation Film (Shared)
- Rukhu Matir Dukhu Majhi (Bengali)
- Beyond Blast (Manipuri)
- Best Anthropological/Ethnographic Film: Fire On Edge (Tiwa)
- Best Debut Non-Feature Film of a Director: Paanchika (Gujarati)
- Best Non-Feature Film: Ek Tha Gaon (Garhwali & Hindi)
Best Writing on Cinema
Cinema critics and writers were acknowledged for their valuable contributions. Subramanya Badoor received a Special Mention for his critical work, while Purushothama Charyulu was awarded the Best Film Critic title. The Best Book on Cinema award went to “Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal: The Incredibly Melodious Journey” by Rajiv Vijayakar.
The winners at the 69th National Film Awards were a testament to the creativity, dedication, and talent within the Indian film industry. From powerful storytelling to outstanding performances, the winners showcased the diverse and vibrant nature of Indian cinema. These awards not only honor the past year’s achievements but also inspire filmmakers and actors to continue pushing boundaries and creating remarkable cinematic experiences for audiences worldwide.
