The 71st National Film Awards have been announced today as the jury commends the best performers in Indian cinema for the year 2023. Telugu films like Bhagavanth Kesari, Balagam, and Baby are featured in the list, while Shah Rukh Khan gets his first national award.
From strong lead performances to compelling storytelling, the awards acknowledged remarkable contributions in categories such as Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Feature Film, Music Direction, Playback Singing, and others.
Scroll down for the full list of winners-National Awards 2023:
- Special mentions: Mr. Rajakrishnan (Animal – Re-Recording)
- Best Thai Phake Film: Pai Tang…Step of Hope
- Best Garo Film: Rimdottianga
- Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari
- Best Tamil Film: Parking
- Best Punjabi Film: Godday Godday Chaa
- Best Odia Film: Pushkara
- Best Marathi Film: Shyamchi Aai
- Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku
- Best Kannada Film: Kandeelu
- Best Hindi Film: Kathal
- Best Gujarati Film: Vash
- Best Bengali Film: Deep Fridge
- Best Assamese Film: Rongatapu 1982
- Best Action Direction: Nandu-Prudhvi (HanuMan)
- Best Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant (Dindhora Baje Re—Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani)
- Best Lyrics: Kasarla Shyam (Ooru Palleturu – Balagam)
- Best Music Direction: GV Prakash Kumar (Vaathi)
- Harshavardhan Rameshwar (Animal)
- Best Makeup: Shrikanth Desai (Sam Bahadur)
- Best Costume Design: Sachin, Divya, Nidhhi (Sam Bahadur)
- Best Production Design: Mohandas (2018)
- Best Editing: Midhun Murali (Pookkaalam)
- Best Sound Design: Sachin Sudhakaran, Hariharan (Animal)
- Best Screenplay: Sai Rajesh (Baby), Ramkumar Balakrishnan (Parking)
- Best Dialogue: Deepak Kingrani (Sirf Ek Bandha Kaafi Hai)
- Best Cinematography: Prasanthanu Mohapatra (The Kerala Story)
- Best Playback Singer: Shilpa Rao (Chaleya – Jawan), Rohit (Premisthunna – Baby)
- Best Child Artist: Sukriti Bandireddi (Gandhi Thatha Chettu), Kabir Khandare (Gypsy)
- Treesha Toshar, Shrinivas Pokale, Bhargav (Naal 2)
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Urvashi (Ullozhukku), Janki Bodiwala (Vash), Vijayaraghavan (Pookalam), Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar (Parking)
- Best Actor in a Leading Role: Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway), Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan), Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)
- Best Direction: Sudipto Sen (The Kerala Story)
- Best Film in AVGC: HanuMan
- Best Children’s Film: Naal 2
- Best Film Promoting National and Social Values: Sam Bahadur
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
- Best Debut Film: Aatmapamphlet
- Best Film: 12th Fail
- Special mentions (non-feature films): Nekal – Chronicle of the Paddy Man, the Sea, and the Seven Villages
- Best Script: Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know
- Best Voiceover: Hari Krishnan S (The Sacred Jack—Exploring The Tree of Wishes)
- Best Music Direction: Pranil Desai (The First Film)
- Best Editing: Niladri Roy (Moving Focus)
- Best Sound Design: Shubarun Sengupta (Dhundhgiri Ke Phool)
- Best Cinematography: Meenakshi Soman, Saravanamaruthu (Little Wings)
- Best Documentary Film: God, Vulture, and Human
- Best Art/Culture Film: Timeless Tamil Nadu
- Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction Film: Mo Bou Mo Gaan, Lentina Ao
- Best Debut Film: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw
- Best Non-Fiction Film: Flowering Man
Notable winners were Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey, who both won the Best Actor award for their performances. Rani Mukerji took home the Best Actress award for her role in Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway.
As said above, Telugu films are also present in the 71st National Awards Winners List-2023. Directed by Anil Ravipudi and starring Balakrishna, Bhagavanth Kesari won the best Telugu film award, while Sai Rajesh’s Baby got the Best Screenplay Award.