In the 69th edition of the National Film Awards for the year 2021, President Droupadi Murmu presented awards in various categories, including the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award, which was granted to the veteran Bollywood actor Waheeda Rehman. During her address, the President lauded Ms. Rehman’s exceptional contributions to the film industry, emphasizing her artistry and persona. She highlighted that even in her personal life, Ms. Rehman had exhibited qualities of dignity, self-confidence, and originality, becoming an inspirational figure for women’s empowerment.
Ms. Murmu also extended her congratulations to the other recipients of the awards, recognizing the ceremony’s representation of India’s diversity and unity. Union Minister Anurag Thakur echoed the sentiment that quality content transcends regional boundaries, and he expressed the government’s commitment to combating movie piracy through initiatives like the Cinematograph Act.
Notable attendees at the event included Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting L. Murugan and I&B Secretary Apurva Chandra. The 69th National Film Awards saw S.S. Rajamouli’s “RRR” receiving six awards, while Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Gangubai Kathiawadi” earned recognition in five categories. The Best Feature Film award was presented to “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect,” and Allu Arjun was honored as the Best Actor for “Pushpa (The Rise Part 1).”
Moreover, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon jointly received the Best Actress Award for their roles in “Gangubai Kathiawadi” and “Mimi.” “The Kashmir Files,” directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, was honored with the Nargis Dutt Award for Outstanding Feature Film on National Integration.
Other notable awards included “Meppadiyan” for Best Debut Film of a Director, “Godavari (The Holy Water)” for Best Direction, and accolades for various technical categories such as Best Music Direction, Special Effects, Choreography, and Action Direction. “Sardar Udham” was recognized in multiple categories, including Best Hindi Film and Best Cinematography.
Supporting actor and actress awards went to Pankaj Tripathi and Pallavi Joshi, respectively. The Best Non-Feature Film award was given to “Ek Tha Gaon” by Srishti Lakhera, and the Best Playback Singer awards were received by Kaala Bhairava and Shreya Ghoshal. Chandrabose earned the award for Best Lyrics.
The event also acknowledged critics’ special mentions, the best film critic, and the best book on cinema, celebrating excellence in the Indian film industry.
