India’s cinematic heritage isn’t just about glamour — it’s about craft, courage, and conviction. At the heart of celebrating this legacy is the National Film Awards, and the 70th edition elevated excellence across storytelling, performance, and technical brilliance.
This year, the awards shone a spotlight on Aattam, Kantara, Uunchai, Gulmohar, and more — films and artists who didn’t just entertain, but engaged and enlightened.
What Are the National Film Awards?
Instituted in 1954, the National Film Awards are India’s highest honours in cinema, celebrating feature & non-feature films across languages and regions. They recognize not only mainstream hits but also niche cinema, documentaries, short films, animations, book-writing, and critical analysis.
The 70th National Film Awards, unveiled on 16 August 2024 and hosted on 8 October 2024 in New Delhi, celebrated films certified between 1 January–31 December 2022 .
Knowledge Partners – Graphisads & Culture in Motion
For the 70th edition, Graphisads lent their creative and operational expertise. From curating elegant red‑carpet moments to executing seamless ceremony logistics, their vision was key in bringing grandeur and grace to the awards:
- They captured star‑studded highlights — like Neena Gupta’s elegant red‑carpet presence.
- They ensured visuals, stage designs, and presentations reflected India’s diverse cultural tapestry.
- They covered emotional milestones — including Mithun Chakraborty’s heartfelt Dadasaheb Phalke tribute.
🏆 Spotlight on the Winners
Feature Film Awards
- Best Feature Film (Swarna Kamal): Aattam (Malayalam)
- Best Debut Film: Fouja (Haryanvi)
- Best Popular Film: Kantara (Kannada) — also bagged Best Actor for Rishab Shetty
- Best Direction: Uunchai by Sooraj R. Barjatya
- Best Actress: Shared by Nithya Menen (Thiruchitrambalam) and Manasi Parekh (Kutch Express)
- Best Supporting Actress: Neena Gupta for Uunchai
- Top Regional Films: Karthikeya 2 (Telugu), Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1 (Tamil), KGF: Chapter 2 (Kannada), Gulmohar topped Hindi cinema
Technical & Crew Excellence
- VFX & AVGC: Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva
- Best Action Direction (KGF Chapter 2), Best Choreography (Megam Karukkatha in Thiruchitrambalam)
- Sound Design: Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1 by Anand Krishnamoorthi
- Production Design: Aparajito (Bengali) by Ananda Addhya
Non‑Feature & Writing on Cinema
- Best Non‑Feature Film: Ayena
- Best Writing: Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography (Authors Anirudha Bhattacharjee & Parthiv Dhar)
- Best Film Critic: Deepak Dua
Lifetime Honour
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty
Why the 70th Edition Matters
- It highlighted regional excellence, bringing Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, and cohort cinema into the national spotlight.
- It honoured technical artistry, especially in sound, choreography, VFX, and design.
- It underscored new voices — from debut directors to non-feature storytellers and critics.
- It reaffirmed the Awards as a platform where art meets impact, featuring stories that resonate across cultures and values.
CultureVerse: Your Window to Indian Film & Culture
On CultureVerse.in, we celebrate cinema as more than an art — it’s conversation, identity, and society. From National Film Awards to festivals like MIFF, Hunar Haat, and more:
- ✅ Stay updated on event announcements
- 🎥 Explore photo‑journalism and BTS moments
- 🎤 Read interviews with winners, directors, and critics
- 📍 Discover where screenings and cultural events are happening near you
Don’t Miss Out!
The 70th National Film Awards might have been unveiled, but the stories keep unfolding — through streaming, retrospectives, panels, and cultural discussions.
Visit CultureVerse.in to access curated content, exclusive visual galleries, and a pulse on India’s cinematic soul.
✨ Let’s honour film — and the artists who shape our world through it.
