The winners of the 71st National Film Awards for the year 2023 were officially announced on Friday evening, celebrating outstanding achievements in Indian cinema. From Bollywood superstars to powerful regional films, this year’s awards recognized a wide spectrum of talent and storytelling across the country.
Shah Rukh Khan Wins First-Ever Best Actor National Award
In a historic moment, Shah Rukh Khan won his first-ever National Film Award for Best Actor, marking a milestone in his long and iconic career. Sharing the spotlight was Vikrant Massey, who also received the Best Actor award for his impactful performance.
Rani Mukerji was named Best Actress, earning recognition for her powerful screen presence and performance in 2023.
Regional Films Shine Bright
This year’s National Film Awards also celebrated diverse regional cinema. Several regional language films earned top honors in their respective categories:
- Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari
- Best Tamil Film: Parking
- Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku
- Best Kannada Film: Kandeelu
- Best Marathi Film: Shyamchi Aai
- Best Bengali Film: Deep Fridge
- Best Gujarati Film: Vash
- Best Punjabi Film: Godday Godday Chaa
- Best Odia Film: Pushkara
- Best Assamese Film: Rongatapu 1982
- Best Garo Film: Rimdottianga
- Best Tai Phake Film: Pai Tang… Step of Hope
Technical and Creative Excellence Recognized
The awards also honored technical brilliance and creativity in filmmaking:
- 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)
A Celebration of Indian Cinema
This year’s winners reflect the depth and diversity of Indian filmmaking, with a strong mix of commercial hits and meaningful regional films. The 71st National Film Awards serve as a reminder of how cinema continues to connect people across languages, regions, and cultures.
The awards were announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and are considered one of the highest honors in Indian film.
