71st National Film Awards 2023: Celebrating Indian Cinema Excellence

The Government of India announced the winners of the 71st National Film Awards on August 1, 2025, recognising excellence in films censored in 2023 . Held at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, the event celebrated outstanding achievements in feature, non‑feature films, and cinematic arts.

Shah Rukh Khan’s Landmark Win

Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan received his first-ever National Award, sharing the Best Actor honour for his dual-role performance in Jawan . He shares the award with Vikrant Massey, praised for his role in 12th Fail — the film that also won Best Feature Film, marking a strong year for its social narrative and direction by Vidhu Vinod Chopra 

Rani Mukerji and Direction Honours

Veteran actor Rani Mukerji won her first Best Actress award for her emotional portrayal in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway . Sudipto Sen was recognised as Best Director for The Kerala Story, highlighting outstanding storytelling and visual narrative .

71st National Film Awards

Regional Feature Film Winners

Films across India earned top honours in their languages:

• Best Hindi Film: Kathal

• Best Tamil Film: Parking

• Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari

• Best Marathi Film: Shyamchi Aai

• Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku

• Best Kannada Film: Kandeelu

• Other regional winners included Godday Godday Chaa (Punjabi), Vash (Gujarati), Deep Fridge (Bengali), and Rangatapu 1982 (Assamese) 

Major Technical & Supporting Awards

Some standout recognitions included:

• Best Supporting Actor: Vijayaraghavan (Pookalam), Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar (Parking)

• Best Supporting Actress: Urvashi (Ullozhukku), Janki Bodiwala (Vash)

• Best Film in AVGC: HanuMan

• Best Popular Film for Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

• Other awards honoured achievements in choreography, music, screenplay, and sound design 

Non-Feature & Critics’ Awards

• Best Non‑Feature Film: Flowering Man

• Best Documentary: God Vulture and Human

• Best Short Film: Giddh The Scavenger

• Best Film Critic: Utpal Datta (Assamese) for best writing on cinema =

History of National Film Awards

The National Film Awards stand as the most prestigious and coveted honors in Indian cinema, a testament to artistic and technical excellence across the country's diverse and multi-lingual film industries. Established by the Government of India, the awards are unique for their national scope and their commitment to celebrating the best of Indian filmmaking, regardless of language or commercial success.

The Origin and Purpose (1954 - 1973)

The awards were first established in 1954 by the Government of India to honor films produced in the year 1953. The primary objective was to encourage the production of films that were not only aesthetically and technically brilliant but also socially relevant, contributing to a better understanding and appreciation of the cultures of different regions of the country. This vision was rooted in promoting national unity through the powerful medium of cinema.

Initially known as the "State Awards," the first ceremony was held on October 10, 1954, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, where the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, presented the awards. The first film to win the President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film was the Marathi film Shyamchi Aai. In these early years, the awards were largely focused on the best films in various languages and documentaries, with limited individual categories.

Evolution and Expansion (1973 - 2021)

From 1973 until 2020, the administration of the awards, along with other major film events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), was overseen by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This period saw a significant expansion in the categories, moving beyond just films to honor individual artists and technicians.

Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1969):

The most significant addition came in 1969 with the institution of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Named after the "Father of Indian Cinema," this is a lifetime achievement award and the highest honor in Indian cinema, recognizing an individual's outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the industry. The first recipient was actress Devika Rani.

• Individual Categories: The first awards for Best Actor and Best Actress were given for the films of 1967. Nargis and Uttam Kumar were the first to receive these honors. Over the years, categories expanded to include Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Playback Singers, and many more, with awards for both feature and non-feature films. The awards are broadly divided into three sections: Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Best Writing on Cinema.

The awards are distinguished by their jury process. An independent, national panel, appointed by the government, selects the winners. This ensures that the selection is based purely on cinematic merit, free from commercial or political influence.

The Modern Era and Recent Changes (2021 - Present)

Since 2021, the administration of the National Film Awards has been transferred to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). This move was part of a larger government effort to consolidate its various film-related bodies under one organization.

In recent times, the awards have also seen some key changes in their categories and prize money.

• Category Renaming: In an effort to broaden their scope, certain categories were renamed. The "Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration," for instance, was renamed to "Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values."
• Prize Money Revision: The prize money for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh. Similarly, the cash prizes for the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) and Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) awards were also revised upwards.
• New Categories: New categories have been introduced to keep pace with modern filmmaking. For example, the awards for "Best Animation Film" and "Best Special Effects" were merged into a new category called "Best AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) Film."

The 71st National Film Awards, announced in August 2025 for films of 2023, reflect these changes, continuing the tradition of honoring the depth and diversity of Indian cinema. The ceremony remains a landmark event where the President of India presents the awards, followed by the National Film Festival, where the public can view the winning films.

Conclusion

The 71st National Film Awards marked a celebratory moment for Indian cinema in 2023. Shah Rukh Khan’s first-ever Best Actor trophy for Jawan and Vikrant Massey’s win for 12th Fail (also Best Feature Film) reflected recognition of mainstream and socially conscious cinema alike. Rani Mukerji and Sudipto Sen’s wins added further prestige.

With powerful regional stories like Parking, Ullozhukku, and HanuMan also honoured, the awards underscored India’s cinematic diversity. From veteran professionals to critics and debut filmmakers, the ceremony showcased excellence in all forms. For fans and filmmakers alike, this year’s winners represent both legacy, innovation, and the continued evolution of storytelling across languages and genres.