The winners of the 70th National Film Awards were announced on Friday, August 16. Feature and non-feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, were eligible for consideration. The awards ceremony, where the best Indian films from various languages produced in 2022 will be honoured by the President, will take place later.
The jury included – Rahul Rawail, Chairperson of the Feature Film Jury; Nila Madhab Panda, Chairperson of the Non-Feature Film Jury; Mr. Gangadhar Mudalair, Chairperson of the Best Writing on Cinema Jury.
Here’s a complete list of winners:
Best Feature Film: Aattam (Malayalam)
Best Director: Sooraj Barjatya (Uunchai)
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kantara
Best Debut Film of a Director: Pramod Kumar, Haryanvi film Fouja
Best Actor: Rishab Shetty (Kantara)
Best Actress: Nithya Menen (Thiruchitrabalam) and Manasi Parekh (Kutch Express)
Best Supporting Actor: Pavan Raj Malhotra (Fouja)
Best Supporting Actress: Neena Gupta (Uunchai)
Best Child Artist: Sreepath (Malikappuram)
Best Feature Film promoting National, Social and Environmental Values: Gujarati film Kutch Express
Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic): Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra
Best Screenplay: Anand Ekarshi (Aattam)
Best Music Director (Songs): AR Rahman (Ponniyin Selvan 1)
Best Music Direction (Background Music): Pritam (Brahmastra) and AR Rahman (Ponniyin Selvan 1)
Best Male Playback Singer: Arijit Singh (Kesariya, Brahmastra)
Best Female Playback Singer: Bombay Jayashri (Saudi Vellakka CC.225/2009)
Best Lyrics: Naushad Sadar Khan (Fouja)
Best Hindi Film: Gulmohar
Best Punjabi Film: Baghi Di Dhee
Best Kannada Film: KGF 2
Best Malayalam Film: Saudi Vellakka
Best Tamil Film: Ponniyin Selvan Part 1
Best Telugu Film: Karthikeya 2
Best Marathi Film: Vaalvi
Best Bengali Film: Kaberi Antardhan
Best Assamese Film: Emuthi Puthi
Best Odiya Film: Daman
Best Sound Design: Anand Krishnamoorthi (Ponniyin Selvan 1)
Best Choreography: Thiruchitramblam
Best Cinematography: Ravi Varman (Ponniyin Selvan 1)
Best Costume Designer: Niki Joshi (Kutch Express)
Best Production Design: Aparajito
Best Editing: Aattam
Non-Feature Film Category
Best Non-feature film: Ayena (Mirror)
Best Direction (Non-feature film): From The Shadow
Best Debut Non-Feature Film of a Director: Madhyantara by Basti Dinesh Shenoy
Best Biographical Film: Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro by Ashok Rane
Best Arts Films: Ranga Vibhoga (Kannada) and Varsa (Legacy)
Best Animation Film: A Coconut Tree by Joshy Benedict
Best Book on Cinema: Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography
Best Film Critic: Deepak Dua
Best Documentary: Murmurs of the Jungle
The National Film Award ceremony was delayed by two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 69th National Film Awards honoured films released between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021. Last year, the Best Feature Film award was won by Madhavan’s Rocketry and the Best Director award was won by Nikhil Mahajan for Godavari.