Ponniyin Selvan 1 To Kantara: 70th National Film Awards Winners

The winners of the 70th National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Center in New Delhi on August 16. Nithya Menen bagged the award as best actress for Tiruchitrabalam and Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1, which won the most awards, securing four categories.

This year’s competition was open to feature and non-feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. 

The jury for the awards included Rahul Rawail as Chairperson of the Feature Film Jury, Nila Madhab Panda as Chairperson of the Non-Feature Film Jury, and Gangadhar Mudalair as Chairperson of the Best Writing on Cinema Jury.

Major Winners:

• Best Feature Film: Aattam (The Play)
• Best Actor: Rishab Shetty for Kantara
• Best Actress: Nithya Menen for Tiruchitrabalam and Manasi Parekh for Kutch Express
• Best Film: Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1, which won the most awards, securing four categories.

Tamil Winners:

• Best Actress: Nithya Menen for Tiruchitrabalam
• Best Tamil Film: Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1
• Best Choreography: Tiruchitrabalam
• Best Sound Design: Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1
• Best Cinematography: Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1

Other Notable Winners:

• Best Action Direction: KGF: Chapter 2
• Best Director: Sooraj Barjatya for Uunchai
• Best Supporting Actress: Neena Gupta for Uunchai
• Best Supporting Actor: Pawan Malhotra for Fouji
• Best Debut: Fouja, directed by Pramod Kumar

Feature Film Categories:

• Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kantara

Language-Specific Awards:

• Best Telugu Film: Karthikeya 2
• Best Punjabi Film: Baaghi Di Dhee
• Best Odia Film: Daman
• Best Malayalam Film: Saudi Velakka CC.225/2009
• Best Marathi Film: Vaalvi
• Best Kannada Film: KGF: Chapter 2
• Best Hindi Film: Gulmohar
• Best Tiwa Film: Sikaisal
• Best Bengali Film: Kaberi Antardhan
• Best Assamese Film: Emuthi Puthi
• Best Film in AVGC: Brahmastra
• Special Mentions:
• Manoj Bajpayee for Gulmohar
• Sanjoy Salil Chowdhury for Kalikhan

Music and Technical Awards:

• Best Lyrics: Fouja
• Best Music Director: Pritam (Songs) and AR Rahman (Background Score)
• Best Makeup: Aparajito
• Best Costumes: Kutch Express
• Best Production Design: Aparajito
• Best Editing: Aattam
• Best Screenplay: Aattam
• Best Dialogues: Gulmohar
• Best Female Playback: Bombay Jayashri for Saudi Velakka CC.225/2009 and Arijit Singh for Brahmastra
• Best Child Artist: Sreepath in Mallikappuram

Non-Feature Film Categories:

• Best Non-Feature Film: Ayena
• Best Debut Film: Madhyantara
• Best Biographical/Historical/Compilation Film: Aanakhi Ek Mohenjo Daro
• Best Arts/Culture Film: Ranga Vibhoga/Varsa
• Best Script: Mono No Aware
• Best Narrator: Murmurs of the Jungle
• Best Music Direction: Fursat
• Best Editing: Madhyantara
• Best Sound Design: Yaan
• Best Cinematography: Mono No Aware
• Best Direction: From the Shadow
• Best Short Film: Xunyota
• Best Animated Film: The Coconut Tree
• Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values: On the Brink Season 2 – Gharial
• Best Documentary: Murmurs of the Jungle