The 69th National Film Awards are announced this evening in Delhi.National Film Awards are the highest awards given in India to honour the best filmmakers and technicians across the many regional film industries.According to the Directorate of Film Festivals of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the National Film Awards "aim at encouraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance."

This year films like Jai Bhim, Minnal Murali, Thalaivii, Sardar Udham, 83, Pushpa The Rise, Shershaah, The Great Indian Kitchen, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Nayattu, among many others, are in contention for the awards.

The history, significance, and recent trends The awards were first handed out in 1954 and were known as the ‘State Awards’. At the time, only best films in different regional languages were recognised and awarded. The awards for actors and technicians working on the films were first given in 1967. Nargis was the first actor to win Best Actress for her performance in Raat Aur Din. Uttam Kumar won the Best Actor award for Antony Firingee and Chiriyakhana in the same year.

At the 68th National Film Awards, Tamil film Soorarai Pottru won in five categories - Best Feature Film, Best Actor for Suriya, Best Actress for Aparna Balamurali, Best Music Direction (Score) for G V Prakash Kumar, and Best Original Screenplay for Sudha Kongara, who also directed the film. Suriya shared his Best Actor win with Ajay Devgn, who won the awards for Tanhaji. Asha Parekh was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2022.

National Film Awards 2023:

280 feature films in 28 languages competed Ahead of announcing the winners of the 69th National Film Awards, Neerja Sekhar, Additional Secretary, I&B, told the media that a total of 280 feature films in 28 languages and 158 non-feature films in 23 languages were received for consideration.

Alia Bhatt and Kangana Ranaut's names are doing the rounds on social media as possible candidates for Best Actress for 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' and 'Thalaivii' respectively.

The winners for the 69th National Film Awards are just announced at 5pm in Delhi today.Reportedly, 280 feature films in 28 languages competed for the awards. Ahead of announcing the winners of the 69th National Film Awards, Neerja Sekhar, Additional Secretary, I&B, told the media that a total of 280 feature films in 28 languages and 158 non-feature films in 23 languages were received for consideration.

The winners of the 69th National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Center in New Delhi on Thursday. The ceremony, which will be held at a future date, will award the best Indian films produced across languages in the calendar year 2021. Feature and non-feature films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, were eligible for contention.

Here is the full list of winners at the 69th National Film Awards.

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect wins Best Feature Film

R Madhavan's Rocketry: The Nambi Effect won Best Feature Film award.

Allu Arjun wins Best Actor

Allu Arjun wins Best Actor for Pushpa.

National Film Awards: Best Actress for Alia and Kriti

Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon won Best Actress awards for Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi.

Pallavi Joshi wins Best Supporting Actress

Pallavi Joshi wins Best Supporting Actress for The Kashmir Files and Pankaj Tripathi won Best Supporting Actor for Mimi.

National Film Awards 2023: Best Hindi Film

Sardar Udham won Best Hindi Film, Chello Show won Best Gujarati Film, 777 Charlie won Best Kannada Film.

Best non feature film:

Garwali and Hindi film Ek Tha Gaon wins Best Non Feature film.

It is well known that award ceremonies have been delayed by two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 68th National Film Awards, held in 2022, honoured the best Indian films released in the calendar year 2020. The Tamil film Soorarai Pottru won the top prize, Best Feature Film, while late filmmaker Sachy won the Best Director honour for Ayyappanum Koshiyum. Ajay Devgn and Suriya shared the Best Actor award, while Aparna Balamurali won the Best Actress award. The 67th National Film Awards celebrated the best Indian films of 2019, but were held in the year 2021. Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea won the top honour that year.