Top 15 Winners of 66th National Film Awards

Indian movies come in a nutshell full of all-time best entertainment factors for us to relax and enjoy. Fitting into all our moods, the vast pool of Indian movies vary into different types and genre for all kind of audience. These movies inculcate continuous churn of the captivating, entertaining and enticing library one could sit back and relish. Rewarding these movies endorses and acknowledges the entertainment industry to come up with better creativity and an exceeding sense of imagination to continue the legacy of the feast the audience enjoys.

National Film Awards ceremony was celebrated at Shastri Bhawan to honour best films of 2018. The juries appointed by Directorate of Film Festivals in India included Rahul Rawaii (Jury head), Non-feature film jury head AS Kanal and jury head for the best writing Utpal Bhojpuri who submitted their report of final recommendations in distinctive categories to the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javedkar. The winners in the list have gone a long way to outstrip the combative nominees through their versatile acting and mad screenplay.

Every year the awards are announced in April, However, this year awards were postponed till May due to the general elections. Prakash Javedkar gave a statement to media, “They made a lot of efforts for the last two months. I am very sure that they would have picked the best films, the best directors. They will announce that at the press conference today. This is 66th year of film awards and they have become a prestigious institute.”

Feature, non-feature films that are certified by the Central Board of Film Certification were eligible for the award categories. Although dubbed, revised or copied versions of a film are ineligible for this process. The following list of 66^th National Film Awards winners is something you cannot miss out on.

1. Best non-feature film

Son-Rise – Vibha Bakshi

Son-Rise was filmed in Haryana is one of the most patriarchal states bordering India’s capital, New Delhi. This movie follows epidemic rampant female foeticide giving the region the title of ‘The land of Daughter Killers.’ Highlighting the struggle of women’s right and gender injustice in the area; this non-feature film exposes the issue of imbalance in sex-ratio and the dark corners of the male-dominated arena.

The Secret Life of Frogs – Ajay & Vijay

This the film was premiered on Animal Planet on 1^st May. Ajay & Vijay have documented the Indian frog species detailing their fascinating behaviours of some lesser-known species. This 40 min film shows a monsoon frog that is seen only during the monsoon season that dances and seduces its mate.

2. Best Director

Aditya Dhar

Aditya Dhar won the National Award for his directorial debut feature film Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019). This movie has been widely applauded by the audience throughout the country. He is also a lyricist and a singer.

3. Best Feature Film

Hellaro – Abhishek Shah

This Gujarati film goes back to 1975 following patriarchal mandates of a small village in Rann of Kutch. They go to fetch water every day in the morning and their life is bound by the rules of men.

4. Best Actor

Ayushmann Khuranna

Ayushmann Khuranna won this award for his impeccable performance in the movie Andhadhun directed by Sriram Raghavan. The story revolves around a blind piano player who becomes a part of a murder scene. The budget of This film was decided to be Rupees 32 Cr. while it grossed over Rupees 442 Cr.

Vicky Kaushal

Vicky Kaushal is one of the talented actors Bollywood has ever produced. He received popularity after getting featured in Aditya Dhar’s movie Uri: The Surgical Strike. The movie followed Major Vihaan Singh Shergill of the Indian Army on the retaliation of 2016 Uri attack.

5. Best Supporting Actor

Swanand Kirkire – Chumbak – The lottery

Swanand Kirkire is a veteran artist both in Indian television and Hindi Films. He received this award for Indian Marathi movie in which the plot revolves around the friendship of a restaurant worker boy and a middle-aged mentally ill man.

6. Supporting Actress

Surekha Sikri – Badhai Ho

Surekha Sikri got her immense recognition and appreciation from viewers and critics for the movie Badhai Ho directed by Amit Sharma.

7. Best Action Direction

KGF Chapter 1

KGF Chapter 1 is an Indian Kannada language period action film written and directed by Prashanth Neel. The story follows Rocky who is born into poverty in the 1960s. He arrives in Bombay to find power and wealth. The film’s set was filmed in a location of Kolar Gold Fields. This movie performed well commercially and collected Rs.76 Cr within 4 days of its release.

8. Best Choreography

Padmaavat – Ghoomar

The song Ghoomar in Padmaavat is sung by Shreya Ghoshal and choreographed by Kruti Mahesh Midya.

9. Best Film for National Integration

Ondalla Eradalla (Kannada)

10. Best Cinematography

Olu (Malayalam)

11. Best Debut Film for a Director

Naal (Marathi)

12. Best Social Issues Film

Padman

13. Best Popular Film