India’s prestigious 71st National Film Awards have been announced, honoring cinematic excellence across the country’s diverse film industries. This highly anticipated event, organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, took place in New Delhi with an official press briefing at the National Media Centre.
The awards recognize the best in Indian cinema for the year, across languages and categories. Earlier in the day, the jury panel submitted their final report to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan, after which the awardees were made public.
Big Winners of the Day: Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey, and Rani Mukerji Shine
Best Actor Award Shared: Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey
One of the most talked-about highlights of the ceremony was the Best Actor award being jointly awarded to two powerhouse performers:
- Shah Rukh Khan received the award for his performance in ‘Jawan’, an action-packed commercial blockbuster directed by Atlee. In this role, SRK played dual characters and captivated both audiences and critics with his emotional depth, screen presence, and social messaging layered into the mass-entertainment format. This win is seen as a major comeback to critical acclaim for the superstar.
- Vikrant Massey shared the Best Actor honor for his portrayal of Manoj Kumar Sharma in ‘12th Fail’, a biographical drama directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film is based on the real-life journey of a poor boy who goes on to become an IPS officer. Massey’s sensitive and realistic performance garnered widespread praise and this win cements his position as one of the finest actors of the new generation.
Best Actress: Rani Mukerji Wins for ‘Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway’
Rani Mukerji took home the Best Actress award for her powerful role in ‘Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway’, a film based on a real-life international child custody battle. The film tells the story of an Indian mother in Norway whose children are taken away by the child welfare system. Rani delivered a raw and emotional performance that highlighted a mother’s desperation, resilience, and fight against bureaucratic injustice.
Best Hindi Film: ‘Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery’
The award for Best Hindi Feature Film went to the satirical social drama ‘Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery’, starring Sanya Malhotra and directed by Yashowardhan Mishra. The Netflix original film offers a unique storyline about a police officer investigating the theft of jackfruits in a small town, which gradually exposes the underlying rot in rural administration and gender dynamics. Its offbeat humor and strong messaging won over the National Award jury.
Full List of Feature Film Winners by Language
The National Film Awards recognize films in all major Indian languages. Here’s the complete list of winners by regional category:
| Language | Winning Film |
| Hindi | Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery |
| Telugu | Bhagavanth Kesari |
| Tamil | Parking |
| Malayalam | Ullozhokku |
| Kannada | Kandeelu: The Ray of Hope |
| Marathi | Shyamchi Aai |
| Bengali | Deep Fridge |
| Gujarati | Vash |
| Odia | Pushkara |
| Punjabi | Godday Godday Chaa |
| Assamese | Rangatapu 1982 |
These regional films reflect the incredible diversity and storytelling richness across India’s film industries, from mainstream hits to independent, message-driven narratives.
Technical and Creative Category Awards
Several films were honored for their technical brilliance and creative contributions. These include choreography, lyrics, music, sound design, and more.
| Category | Winner(s) | Film |
| Special Mention (Re-recording Mixer) | M. R. Radhakrishnan | Animal |
| Best Action Direction | — | Hanu-Man (Telugu) |
| Best Choreography | — | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani |
| Best Lyrics | — | Balagam |
| Best Music Direction (Songs) | — | Vaathi (Tamil) |
| Best Make-up & Costume Design | — | Sam Bahadur |
| Best Production Design | — | 2018: Everyone is a Hero (Malayalam) |
| Best Editing | — | Pookalam (Malayalam) |
| Best Sound Design | — | Animal |
| Best Cinematography | — | The Kerala Story (Hindi) |
These wins highlight both the artistic depth and the behind-the-scenes excellence of Indian filmmaking in 2024.
Music Awards: Playback Singing and More
| Award | Winner |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Song from Jawan |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Song from Baby |
(Note: The exact names of the singers were not mentioned in the original jury announcement and will be updated once confirmed by the Ministry.)
Best Supporting Roles Recognized
| Category | Winner(s) | Film(s) |
| Best Supporting Actress | Urvashi & Janaki | Ullozhokku (Malayalam), Vash (Gujarati) |
| Best Supporting Actor | Vijayaraghavan & Muthupettai | Pookalam (Malayalam), Parking (Tamil) |
These seasoned actors added emotional strength and realism to their respective films, earning them national recognition.
About the National Film Awards
Established in 1954, the National Film Awards are India’s most prestigious film honors. Unlike other film awards that are influenced by box office performance or popular vote, these awards are government-backed and judged by independent juries. They aim to promote quality cinema and cultural integration across India’s multilingual film ecosystem.
The 71st National Film Awards reflect a balanced recognition of both popular and critically acclaimed films. From Shah Rukh Khan’s commercial mass hit Jawan to Vikrant Massey’s emotionally resonant 12th Fail, and from Rani Mukerji’s real-life inspired role in Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway to the quirky yet powerful narrative of Kathal, this year’s winners show the evolution of Indian cinema toward diverse storytelling and socially relevant themes.
With accolades going to regional gems and bold content-driven films, the awards underscore the fact that Indian cinema is thriving—not just in Bollywood but across languages and platforms.
The Information is Collected from NDTV and India Today.
