Firsts are always special, but they mean even more when they come as National Awards. Yami Gautam and Kartik Aaryan bagged their first National Awards in the Best Actress and Best Actor categories for Article 370 and Chandu Champion, respectively, at the 72nd National Film Awards, announced on Sunday. Aaryan shared the honour with Malayalam superstar Mammootty for Bramayugam.
Dhanush got a Special Mention (Feature) award for ‘Captain Miller’; (right) Mammootty
Article 370 emerged as one of the biggest winners, also taking home Best Feature Film and Best Music (Songs) for composer Shashwat Sachdev. Sachdev said, “I came into cinema with no inheritance, only a deep love for music, so this National Award feels like a beautiful pause to look back at every uncertain day, quiet sacrifice, and every person who stood by me.” Tamil film Amaran won three awards — Best Director, Best Music Direction, and Best Editing.
Rajkummar Rao-starrer Srikanth won Best Hindi Film. Director Tushar Hiranandani told mid-day, “Actually, for Srikanth, the only award that I won before was in Moscow. I was not even nominated in any other category, in any other awards. At last, I feel happy. I dedicate this to my mom and father-in-law, who passed away before the release.”
For Randeep Hooda the win for Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar came as a surprise. Reacting to the big honour, he said, “This film asked more of me than anything I’ve ever done. The journey was filled with challenges at every juncture, but I’m glad we saw it through and overcame each of those.”
Randeep Hooda and Tushar Hiranandani
Who got snubbed?
Despite securing global critical acclaim and historic festival wins over the past year, ‘All We Imagine as Light’ and ‘Laapataa Ladies’ were shut out at the 72nd National Film Awards
List of winners
Best Feature Film: ‘Article 370’
Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan (‘Chandu Champion’) and Mammootty (‘Bramayugam’)
Best Actress: Yami Gautam (‘Article 370’)
Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy (‘Amaran’)
Best Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra (‘Bhakshak’)
Best Supporting Actress: Ropashree Varkady (‘Mithya’) and Sachana Namidass (‘Maharaja’)
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: ‘Kalki 2898 AD’
Best Debut Director: Randeep Hooda (‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’)
Best Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values: ‘Captain Miller’
Best Hindi Film: ‘Srikanth’