The winners of the 70th National Film Awards were disclosed at the National Media Center in New Delhi on Friday. The awards ceremony, scheduled for a future date, will celebrate the finest Indian films produced in various languages throughout 2022. The honorees will be recognized by the President of India. To be eligible for these awards, feature and non-feature films needed to be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. This year’s jury was led by Rahul Rawail, Chairperson of the Feature Film Jury, with Nila Madhab Panda heading the Non-Feature Film Jury, and Gangadhar Mudalair overseeing the Best Writing on Cinema Jury.
The Malayalam-language film Aattamemerged as the Best Feature Film, while Rishab Shetty was awarded Best Actor, and the Best Actress title was shared between Nithya Menen and Manasi Parekh. The film Ponniyin Selvan: 1 stood out, clinching four awards.
Full List of Winners at the 70th National Film Awards:
Feature Film Categories
Best Feature Film: Aattam
Best Actor: Rishab Shetty for Kantara
Best Actress: Nithya Menen for Tiruchitrabalam, Manasi Parekh for Kutch Express
Best Director: Sooraj Barjatya for Uunchai
Best Supporting Actress: Neena Gupta for Uunchai
Best Supporting Actor: Pawan Malhotra for Fouja
Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kantara
Best Debut: Pramod Kumar for Fouja
The regional film awards were also part of the announcement, recognizing outstanding works in various Indian languages:
Best Telugu Film: Karthikeya 2
Best Tamil Film: Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1
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
The jury also provided special mentions, recognizing Manoj Bajpayee for his performance in Gulmohar and Sanjoy Salil Chowdhury for his work in Kadhikan.
Additional Feature Film Awards:
Best Action Direction: KGF: Chapter 2
Best Choreography: Tiruchitrabalam
Best Lyrics: Fouja
Best Music Director: Pritam (Songs), AR Rahman (Background Score)
Best Makeup: Aparajito
Best Costumes: Kutch Express
Best Production Design: Aparajito
Best Editing: Aattam
Best Sound Design: Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1
Best Screenplay: Aattam
Best Dialogues: Gulmohar
Best Cinematography: Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1
Best Female Playback Singer: Bombay Jayashri for Saudi Velakka CC.225/2009
Best Male Playback Singer: Arijit Singh for Brahmastra
Best Child Artist: Sreepath in Mallikappuram
Best Film in Animation, VFX, Gaming, and Comic (AVGC): Brahmastra
Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values: Kutch Express
Film Writing and Criticism Awards:
Best Critic: Deepak Dua
Best Book on Cinema: Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography
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
The National Film Awards ceremony was delayed by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 69th National Film Awards took place in 2023, recognizing films certified in 2021. Rocketry won Best Feature Film, while Allu Arjun was named Best Actor, and Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon shared the Best Actress title. The 68th National Film Awards honored Soorarai Pottru as Best Feature Film, while the late filmmaker Sachy won Best Director for Ayyappanum Koshiyum. Ajay Devgn and Suriya shared the Best Actor award, and Aparna Balamurali received Best Actress.
The National Film Awards, established in 1954, are administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals. The first-ever Best Feature Film award was given to the Marathi film Shyamchi Aai. The most honored film in the awards’ history is Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan, which secured eight awards in 2002. Alongside recognizing the nation’s best films, the awards also celebrate regional cinema and industry legends with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement, with last year’s award going to Waheeda Rehman.
