The 70th National Film Awards, announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in August 2024, honored the best of Indian cinema for the year 2022. Rishab Shetty secured the Best Actor award for his performance in Kantara, while Nithya Menen and Manasi Parekh shared the Best Actress honor for their respective roles in Thiruchitrambalam and Kutch Express. The ceremony recognized a diverse range of cinematic achievements across regional and national industries.
Top Honors at the 70th National Film Awards
The prestigious Swarna Kamal for Best Feature Film was awarded to the Malayalam film Aattam, directed by Anand Ekarshi. The film, which explores themes of human behavior and collective decision-making, was widely praised by the jury for its narrative precision.
In the acting categories, the 70th edition saw a strong emphasis on regional representation:
- Best Actor: Rishab Shetty, Kantara (Kannada)
- Best Actress: Nithya Menen, Thiruchitrambalam (Tamil) and Manasi Parekh, Kutch Express (Gujarati)
- Best Supporting Actor: Pavan Raj Malhotra, Fouja (Haryanvi)
- Best Supporting Actress: Neena Gupta, Uunchai (Hindi)
Sooraj Barjatya received the award for Best Director for his work on the film Uunchai, which centers on a group of elderly friends embarking on a trek to Everest Base Camp.
Recognition for Music and Production
The music categories highlighted both established talent and emerging voices. A.R. Rahman won the award for Best Background Music for his work on Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1, while Pritam received the Best Music Director award for Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva.
The awards also acknowledged technical excellence:
- Best Cinematography: Ravi Varman, Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1
- Best Screenplay: Anand Ekarshi, Aattam
- Best Playback Singer (Male): Arijit Singh, Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva
- Best Playback Singer (Female): Bombay Jayashri, Saudi Vellakka CC.225/2009
Awards for Regional and Non-Feature Films
The jury, headed by filmmaker Rahul Rawail, emphasized the growing quality of regional storytelling. The film Kantara also received the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, reflecting its significant cultural and commercial impact during its 2022 release.
In the non-feature category, Ayena won Best Non-Feature Film. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honor in cinema, was conferred upon actor Mithun Chakraborty for his contribution to the film industry.
Summary of Major Categories
| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | Aattam | Malayalam |
| Best Actor | Rishab Shetty | Kantara |
| Best Actress | Nithya Menen / Manasi Parekh | Thiruchitrambalam / Kutch Express |
| Best Director | Sooraj Barjatya | Uunchai |
| Best Popular Film | Kantara | Kannada |
The 70th National Film Awards underscore the continued dominance of regional cinema in critical evaluations, with Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films securing top honors alongside mainstream Hindi productions. The awards serve as a formal acknowledgment of the artistic contributions made by filmmakers, actors, and technicians during the 2022 calendar year.
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