The 70th National Film Awards ceremony, held in New Delhi, honored the finest talents of Indian cinema, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the awards to deserving artists. This year, Telugu cinema made a significant mark, with Sita Ramam sweeping major categories and Pushpa and RRR also making notable wins.
Sita Ramam, a heartwarming love story, emerged as the night’s big winner, clinching Best Feature Film and a host of other awards. Director Hanu Raghavapudi was named Best Director for his exceptional storytelling, while Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur took home the Best Actor and Best Actress awards, respectively, for their captivating performances. The supporting roles were also dominated by Sita Ramam, with Gautham Menon winning Best Supporting Actor and Rashmika Mandanna securing Best Supporting Actress.
In technical categories, the film shone with awards for Best Cinematography (P. S. Vinod), Best Music Direction (Vishal Chandrasekhar), Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Lyrics (Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry), and Best Sound Design, solidifying Sita Ramam’s dominance at the ceremony. The film also received the award for Best Film on Social Issues, adding depth to its already impressive achievement.
Meanwhile, Pushpa: The Rise continued its winning streak, taking home awards for Best Choreography and Best Action Direction, showcasing the film’s high-energy performances and thrilling stunts. The global hit RRR didn’t miss out either, securing awards for Best Special Effects, Best Costume Design, and Best Feature Film (Critics), further cementing its place in Indian cinematic history.
KGF Chapter 2 stood tall for Kannada cinema, winning Best Kannada Film and Best Action Direction, while Rishab Shetty earned Best Actor in a Leading Role for his powerful performance in Kantara.
Bollywood also celebrated major wins, with Arijit Singh taking the award for Best Male Playback Singer for his mesmerizing vocals in Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva. The film also triumphed in the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comic) category, winning Best VFX Film.
The 70th National Film Awards highlighted the diversity and excellence across Indian cinema, with Telugu films, in particular, making an unforgettable impact on this year’s event.
