Sardar Udham, RRR, Gangubai Kathiawadi Win Big at National Film Awards

The winners of the 69th National Film Awards were announced on August 24.The National Film Awards are the most prestigious awards, which are announced annually to honour the best filmmaking talent across the country. 

Films in both Hindi and regional languages were given awards across multiple categories. Sardar Udham (2021), RRR (2022) and Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) won multiple awards in the 69th edition of the National Film Awards. 

Sardar Udham starring Vicky Kaushal as freedom fighter Udham Singh has won awards in five categories. The film, directed by Shoojit Sircar was honoured with the best Hindi film award. It also won awards for best cinematography (Avik Mukhopadhyay), best audiography (Sinoy Joseph), best production design (Dmitrii Malich and Mansi Dhruv Mehta) and best costume design (Veera Kapur Ee). 

RRR, directed by SS Rajamouli and starring Ram Charan and Junior NTR, won in six categories. Best popular film providing wholesome entertainment, best male playback singer (Kaala Bhairava for the song 'Komuram Bheemudo'), best music direction- M.M. Keeravaani shared the award with Devi Sri Prasad for Pushpa: The Rise (2021), best special effects (V. Srinivas Mohan), best choreography (Prem Rakshith) and best action direction (King Solomon).

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Alia Bhatt, won awards for best screenplay-adapted ( Bhansali and Utkarshini Vashishtha), best dialogue (Vashishtha and Prakash Kapadia), best editing (Bhansali), best actress (Bhatt); and best make-up artist (Preetisheel Singh D’souza).

Bhatt shared the award for best actress with Kriti Sanon who won for her performance in Mimi (2021). Allu Arjun won the award for best actor for Pushpa: The Rise.