The 68th National Film Awards were held on Friday afternoon (July 22) and Suriya's Soorarai Pottru and Ajay Devgn's Tanhaji- The Unsung Warrior earn the biggest accolades. The winners of the reputed awards were announced by jury member Choreographer Dharam Gulati, and Ajay Devgn and Suriya have been awarded the Best Actor for Tanhaji and Soorarai Pottru respectively.
Talking about other awards, Best Feature Film (Hindi) went to Ashutosh Govarikar-backed Toolsidas Juinor. Whereas, Ajay Devgn's Tanhaji- The Unsung Warrior won Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Aparna Balamurali won the Best Actress award for showcasing her impressive acting chops in Suriya's Soorarai Pottru. Suriya's 2020 Tamil film Soorarai Pottru also bagged awards in the categories of Best Screenplay (Sudha Kongara) and Best Music Director (GV Prakash), Best Direction (Sudha Kongara), Best Production (2D Production).
Here's the proud moment for Suriya's Soorarai Pottru
Malayalam thriller Ayyappanum Koshiyum won two major awards. Director K R Sachidanandan, known professionally as Sachy, won Best Director posthumously, and Biju Menon won Best Supporting Actor. In 2020, Sachy died of cardiac arrest at the age of 47. Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli won Best Supporting Actress for her act in Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengalum. The film has also won Best Tamil Film and Best Editing.
Check out the complete list of award winners
Best Feature Film in each of the languages specified
Best Haryanvi Film: Dada Lakhmi
Best Tulu Film: Jeetige
Best Telugu Film: Colour Photo
Best Tamil Film: Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengallum
Best Malayalam Film: Thinkalazcha Nishchayam (Engagement is on Monday)
Best Marathi Film: Goshta Eka Paithanichi (Tale of a Paithani)
Best Kannada Film: Dollu
Best Hindi Film: Toolsidas Junior
Best Bengali Film: Avijatrik (The Wanderlust of Apu)
Best Assamese Film: Bridge
Best Music Direction: Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (Telugu), Soorarai Pottru (Tamil)
Best Costume Designer: Tanhaji- The Unsung Warrior (Hindi)
Best Production Design: Kappela (Chapel)
Best Editing: Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengallum (Tamil)
Best Audiography: Dollu (Kannada), Mi Vasantrao (Marathi), Malik (Malayalam)
Best Screenplay: Soorarai Pottru (Tamil), Mandela (Tamil)
Best Supporting Actress: Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengallum (Tamil)
Best Supporting Actor: AK Ayyappanum Koshiyum (Malayalam)
Best Actress: Soorarai Pottru (Tamil)
Best Actor: Soorarai Pottru (Tamil), Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (Hindi)
Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (Hindi)
Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director: Mandela (Tamil)
Best Feature Film: Soorarai Pottru (Tamil)
The jury of the National Film Awards was led by producer Vipul Shah with 10 other members. The 68th National Film Awards can be watched on PIB official YouTube channel.
