The 70th National Film Awards was announced on Friday (August 16) bringing joy to the film industry, with the winners including Neena Gupta, Vishal Bhardwaj, and the team behind Kantara expressing their heartfelt gratitude for the prestigious honours their work received.
Rishab Shetty on his win
Rishab Shetty, who won Best Actor and Best Entertaining Film for 'Kantara', dedicated his award to his Kannada audience. He said, “I am truly overwhelmed by the honor of this National Award for 'Kantara.' I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey, the incredible team of artists, technicians and especially Hombale Films. The audiences have made this film what it is and their support fills me with a deep sense of responsibility. I am committed to working even harder to bring an even better film to our viewers. With utmost respect, I dedicate this award to our Kannada audience, the Daiva Nartakas and Appu sir. I thank the divine as we have reached this moment through the blessings of the Daivas.”
What Neena Gupta said
Neena Gupta, who last won the Best Supporting Actress award in 1994 for her role in Woh Chhokri, has once again claimed the title, this time for her performance in the 2022 Hindi film Uunchai. The film also earned director Sooraj Barjatya his first National Award for Best Director.
Reflecting on her win, Gupta shared with PTI, "I can't believe I've got the award. It is yet to sink in. I've got two National awards in the past (for Bazar Sitaram and Woh Chokri) and I'm getting another National award after many many years, it's a big thing for me."
Gupta emphasised her philosophy of perseverance, adding, "My mantra is to just keep working hard. There have been times when you don't get an award even though when you've given a great performance but eventually your hard work pays off. I believe mehnat kare jao, phal toh milega aur yeh award meri mehnat ka phal hai (If you work hard, you will be awarded and this is the result of my hard work)."
What Sooraj Barjatya said
Sooraj Barjatya, who won Best Director award for his film Uunchai, said, "I am humbled to be honoured amongst the best that the country has seen in cinema during 2022. It takes me back 30 years, when Hum Aapke Hain Koun won the National Award for best film. The rush and happiness that I felt as a young director then was crazy! But today, as I get the National Award for Best Director - Uunchai, there is a sense of gratitude and calmness.. The joy and happiness are much more internal today! As a director, my job for the last 35 years has been to keep telling stories. And I'm not done yet, there's much more to come!"
What Manoj Bajpayee said
Actor Manoj Bajpayee said that he feels proud that his film "Gulmohar" has been chosen for three honours including Best Film, Best Screenplay awards and the actor getting a Special Mention at the 70th National Film Awards. “All I can say is that I am too happy for my director and feel very proud that Gulmohar is chosen for 3 awards ! A film which holds a very special place in my heart,” Manoj told IANS. “
Vishal Bhardwaj's statement
Vishal Bhardwaj also celebrated a significant achievement, winning his ninth National Film Award as Best Music Director for his work on the short film Fursat in the non-feature film category. Bhardwaj, who has previously been honored for his contributions to music and screenplay for films like Haider, Ishqiya, Talvar, and The Blue Umbrella, expressed his joy in a statement.
"Just heard about the National Award for Fursat. I am deeply happy to get my 9th national award. It's the biggest award of our country. The only one that truly matters. And winning this is the greatest validation of my work! Thank you Jury for this. Now I need to strive for a double digit," Bhardwaj told PTI.
Producers of Kantara
The producers of Kantara, Vijay Kirgandur and Chaluve Gowda, were equally thrilled, as the film won Best Kannada Film, Best Actor for Rishabh Shetty, and the award for Most Popular Film. They highlighted the cultural significance of the movie, which reflects the rich traditions and values of Kannada heritage.
"We are deeply honoured and humbled to receive the prestigious National Award for Kantara. This recognition is not just a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team but also a celebration of the rich and vibrant Kannada culture that is at the heart of this film. For us, Kantara is more than a movie," the producers said in a joint statement.
They continued, "Our aim was to bring these deep-rooted cultural elements to the forefront and we are immensely glad that the film has resonated with audiences across the nation. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India and the jury for this recognition."
Ayan Mukerji on Brahmastra's win
Ayan Mukerji, director of Brahmastra has expressed gratitude as the movie has bagged three awards. Music Composer Pritam has won the award for 'Best Music Direction', while Arijit Singh won the 'Best Male Playback Singer' for the song 'Kesariya'. The film has also won the award for 'Best Film in AVGC' (Animation, Visual Effects Gaming & Comic). Speaking about the same, Ayan said in a statement: "It’s a special day for us. I am deeply grateful for the recognition 'Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva' has received at the National Awards. The music of the film holds a special place in all our hearts." "Pritam Da's compositions, coupled with Amitabh's lyrics and with Arijit's voice, is something I feel so proud and grateful for. From the music to the visual effects, we poured a lot of love into making this film, and I thank the entire team for this fantastic collaborative effort which continues to give us so much love,"
Pritam on his win
Singer-composer Pritam also expressed his thanks after winning the Best Music Director award (Song) for Brahmastra Part 1: Shiva. "Thanks to the makers and everyone associated with Brahmastra Part 1: Shiva and a big thank you to the audience for all their love," Pritam said.
Prashanth Neel's statement
Director Prashanth Neel, whose film 'KGF Chapter 2' won Best Kannada Film, said, “I am truly honored by this National Award for 'KGF Chapter 2.' My deepest gratitude goes to Yash for his extraordinary performance and to the entire team and the crew for their relentless dedication. A heartfelt thank you to our audience for their unwavering support and to the media for their vital role in this journey. Congratulations to Rishab Shetty and Hombale Films for their well-deserved recognition with 'Kantara.' This achievement is a shining moment for Kannada cinema and I’m grateful to everyone who made this possible.”