71st National Film Awards: Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey Share Best Actor

NEW DELHI – In a highly anticipated announcement that celebrates the best of Indian cinema, the winners of the 71st National Film Awards have been declared. The prestigious awards, which honor films from the year 2023, saw several first-time winners and celebrated a diverse range of cinematic achievements across multiple languages.

In a landmark decision, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and acclaimed actor Vikrant Massey were jointly awarded the Best Actor prize. Shah Rukh Khan was honored for his powerful performances in the blockbuster films Jawan and Pathaan, marking his first-ever National Award win. Vikrant Massey, meanwhile, was recognized for his critically lauded portrayal in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail, a biographical drama that resonated deeply with audiences.

The Best Actress award went to Rani Mukerji for her stellar performance in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. Her compelling and emotional depiction of a mother’s fight against the Norwegian child welfare system was widely praised by critics and audiences alike.

The night’s biggest winner was undoubtedly Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail, which was named the Best Feature Film. Based on the true story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, the film’s gritty and inspiring narrative about overcoming poverty and failure to achieve success earned it top honors.

Highlights from the 71st National Film Awards

• Best Hindi Film: The award for Best Hindi Film was given to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series Heeramandi, which received accolades for its stunning production design and nuanced storytelling.
• Best Direction: The award for Best Direction went to Sudipto Sen for his work on the controversial but impactful film The Kerala Story.
• Best Supporting Actor: The award was shared between Pankaj Tripathi for his role in OMG 2 and Vijayaraghavan for Pookalam.
• Best Supporting Actress: This award was also shared, going to Urvashi for Ullozhukku and Janki Bodiwala for her performance in Vash.
• Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: This award was bagged by Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
• Best Film on Social Issues: The poignant film Bheed, which explored the struggles of migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdown, won this honor.
• Best Music Direction: A.R. Rahman was awarded for his exceptional musical score in the film Ponniyin Selvan 2.
• Best Playback Singer (Female): Shilpa Rao won for her soulful rendition of the song “Besharam Rang” from Jawan.
• Best Child Artist: The award went to Pritham Sanyukta for their performance in the film Kida.

The announcement of the 71st National Film Awards is a testament to the thriving and diverse landscape of Indian cinema. From big-budget blockbusters to critically acclaimed independent films, the awards recognized a wide spectrum of talent and storytelling, reinforcing the importance of creative excellence and technical brilliance in filmmaking.