The 71st National Film Awards, announced on August 1, 2025, in New Delhi, celebrated the best of Indian cinema for films released in 2023. Organized by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), these awards honor excellence in storytelling, acting, direction, and technical skills across various Indian languages. Below is a simple, category-wise list of winners to help you explore the highlights of this prestigious event.
Importance
The National Film Awards recognize artistic and technical merit in Indian cinema. Unlike commercial awards, winners are chosen by a panel of film experts, focusing on creativity, cultural diversity, and social impact. This year’s awards showcased a mix of mainstream blockbusters and regional gems, reflecting the richness of Indian filmmaking.
Feature Film Category Winners
Here’s a table of the major winners in the Feature Film category:
| Category | Winner | Film | Language |
| Best Feature Film | Vidhu Vinod Chopra (Director) | 12th Fail | Hindi |
| Best Actor | Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey | Jawan, 12th Fail | Hindi |
| Best Actress | Rani Mukerji | Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway | Hindi |
| Best Supporting Actor | Vijayaraghavan, Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar | Pookkaalam, Parking | Malayalam, Tamil |
| Best Supporting Actress | Urvashi, Janki Bodiwala | Ullozhukku, Vash | Malayalam, Gujarati |
| Best Director | Sudipto Sen | The Kerala Story | Hindi |
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Ashish Bende | Aatmapamphlet | Marathi |
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Karan Johar (Director) | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Hindi |
| Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values | Meghna Gulzar (Director) | Sam Bahadur | Hindi |
| Best Children’s Film | Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti (Director) | Naal 2 | Marathi |
| Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comic) | Prasanth Varma (Director) | Hanu-Man | Telugu |
Regional Feature Film Winners
The awards celebrated India’s diverse languages with these regional winners:
| Language | Film | Director/Producer |
| Best Malayalam Film | Ullozhukku | Christo Tomy (Director) |
| Best Tamil Film | Parking | – |
| Best Telugu Film | Bhagavanth Kesari | Anil Ravipudi (Director) |
| Best Punjabi Film | Godday Godday Chaa | – |
| Best Odia Film | Pushkara | – |
| Best Marathi Film | Shyamchi Aai | – |
| Best Gujarati Film | Vash | Krishnadev Yagnik (Director) |
| Best Bengali Film | Deep Fridge | – |
| Best Assamese Film | Rangatapu 1982 | – |
| Best Tai Phake Film | Pai Tang…Step of Hope | – |
Non-Feature Film Category Winners
Non-feature films like documentaries and short films were also recognized. Here are the key winners:
| Category | Winner | Film | Language |
| Best Non-Feature Film | Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar (Director) | Flowering Man | – |
| Best Director | Piyush Thakur | The First Film | Hindi |
| Best Documentary | – | God Vulture and Human | – |
| Special Mention | M K Ramadas (Director) | Nekal – Chronicle of the Paddy Man | – |
Technical and Other Awards
The awards also honored technical excellence and contributions to cinema:
| Category | Winner | Film | Language |
| Best Music Direction (Songs) | GV Prakash Kumar | Vaathi | Tamil |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Shilpa Rao | Jawan (Song: Chaliya) | Hindi |
| Best Male Playback Singer | PVN S Rohit | Baby (Song: Premisthunna) | Telugu |
| Best Editing | – | Pookkaalam | Malayalam |
| Best Cinematography | – | The Kerala Story | Hindi |
| Best Sound Design | – | Animal | Hindi |
| Best Action Direction | – | Hanu-Man | Telugu |
| Best Choreography | – | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Hindi |
| Best Lyrics | – | Balagam | Telugu |
| Best Make-up, Costume Design | – | Sam Bahadur | Hindi |
| Best Production Design | – | 2018: Everyone is a Hero | Malayalam |
| Best Film Critic | Utpal Datta | – | Assamese |
Special Mentions
- Animal: MR Rajakrishnan for Re-Recording Mixer (Hindi).
- Best Child Artists: Sukriti Bandireddi (Gandhi Thatha Chettu), Kabir Khandare (Gypsy), Treesha Toshar, Shrinivas Pokale, Bhargav (Naal 2).
Key Highlights
- Shah Rukh Khan’s First National Award: Shah Rukh Khan won his first-ever National Award for Jawan, sharing the Best Actor honor with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail. This marks a milestone in SRK’s 30-year career.
- Rani Mukerji’s Powerful Performance: Rani Mukerji’s emotional role in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway earned her the Best Actress award.
- 12th Fail Shines: Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, 12th Fail won Best Feature Film, celebrated for its inspiring story.
- Regional Diversity: Films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, and other languages were recognized, showcasing India’s cinematic variety.
- Jury and Process: The jury, led by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, evaluated films certified by the CBFC between January 1 and December 31, 2023.
The 71st National Film Awards highlight the balance between commercial hits like Jawan and meaningful stories like 12th Fail and Kathal. They promote films that entertain, inspire, and address social issues, encouraging filmmakers to create impactful content.
For more details, visit the official NFDC website or check updates on PIB India. Stay tuned for the award ceremony, where winners will be felicitated by the President of India.
FAQ
Question: Which Assamese film received an award at the 71st National Film Awards?
Answer: The Assamese film Rangatapu 1982 won the Best Assamese Film award at the 71st National Film Awards, announced on August 1, 2025, for its outstanding contribution to regional cinema.
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