New Delhi : The prestigious National Film Awards ceremony is taking place today at Vigyan Bhavan
in New Delhi, where President Droupadi Murmu will honour the winners at 4 PM.
This year marks a significant milestone for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who receives his
first-ever National Award for Best Actor for his performance in ‘Jawan’.The ceremony will also see
South Indian legend Mohanlal receiving the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in
Indian cinema.
Rani Mukherjee has been awarded Best Actress for her compelling performance in ‘Mrs. Chatterjee
vs. Norway’,marking her first National Award as well.
The most contentious award this year goes to ‘The Kerala Story’, which won Best Direction for
Sudipto Sen. The film, released on May 5, 2023, has sparked intense political debate and protests
from Keralas state government.
The controversy stems from the films original trailer claim that 32,000 women from Kerala
converted to Islam and joined ISIS. Following backlash, the makers reduced this number to just 3.
The film depicts alleged ‘love jihad’; tactics used for religious conversion, leading to its ban in West
Bengal and widespread protests in Kerala. The Supreme Court eventually allowed its release with
modifications and disclaimers.The National Film Awards began in 1954 as "State Awards for Films," initially presented by President
Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The first ceremony featured only three categories: Best Feature Film (Shyamchi
Aai), Best Documentary (Mahatma Gandhi), and Best Children’s Film (Jagriti). The awards were
renamed "National Film Awards" in 1968 and have since expanded to include various regional
languages and technical categories.
The ceremony continues to be held annually at Vigyan Bhavan, maintaining its tradition of
celebrating Indian cinema’s diversity while occasionally becoming a platform for political and artistic
debates.
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