The curtain rose on Indian cinema’s grandest stage as the 71st National Film Awards for 2023 were announced on Friday, celebrating storytelling that resonated across languages and genres. The awards—long considered the most prestigious in the country—were unveiled in Delhi, with filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker leading the jury in revealing winners across 15 fiercely contested categories.
And what a year it has been! From Vikrant Massey’s transformative turn in 12th Fail, which bagged Best Film, to Rani Mukerji’s gut-wrenching portrayal in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, earning her Best Actress, this year’s awards felt like a tribute to cinema that blends craft with raw emotional heft.
But perhaps the headline-grabber was Shah Rukh Khan finally clinching his first National Award, for his larger-than-life performance in Jawan. For an actor who’s been the heartbeat of Indian cinema for decades, this recognition felt both overdue and deeply satisfying.
🎬 Feature Film Highlights
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Best Hindi Film: Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery (Dir: Yashowardhan Mishra)
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Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari (Dir: Anil Ravipudi)
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Best Marathi Film: Shyamchi Aai (Dir: Sujay Sunil Dahake)
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Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku (Undercurrent) (Dir: Christo Tomy)
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Best Garo Film: Rimdogittanga (Rapture) (Dir: Dominic Megam Sangma)
Technical artistry was celebrated too: Prasantanu Mohapatra’s visuals in The Kerala Story won Best Cinematography, while Vaibhavi Merchant’s vibrant choreography in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani set the screen ablaze with colour and movement.
Music brought its own share of glory—Vaathi clinched Best Music for Songs, while Animal’s evocative background score sealed its mark.
Performances That Defined 2023
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Best Actor (Male): Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) & Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan)
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Best Actress (Female): Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway)
It was a lineup that blended star power with substance—proof that Indian cinema’s beating heart lies equally in its commercial pulse and intimate, lived-in narratives.
Non Feature Films:
- Best Non-Feature Film goes to: Flowering Man (Hindi) (Director: Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar)
- Best Non-Feature Film (upto 30 minutes): Giddh The Scavenger (Hindi) Director: Manish Saini
- Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social And Environmental Values: The Silent Epidemic (Hindi) (Director: Akshat Gupta)
- Best Cinematography: Little Wings (Tamil)
- Special Mention (Non-Feature Films): Nekal – Chronicle of the Paddy Man And The Sea And Seven Villages
Why These Awards Still Matter
In an age of streaming disruption and global crossovers, the National Film Awards remain India’s cinematic conscience—a reminder that powerful storytelling transcends box office math. From indie triumphs to pan-India spectacles, this year’s winners underline cinema’s duality: deeply local yet globally resonant.
As the lights dimmed on this year’s ceremony, one thing was clear: Indian cinema is thriving in its diversity—rooted in soil, soaring toward the world.
