National Film Awards: Shah Rukh Khan-Vikrant Massey share best actor award, '12th Fail' is best film
New Delhi, Aug 1 (PTI): Hindi cinema dominated the 71st National Film Awards on Friday with superstar Shah Rukh Khan winning his career's first best actor award for "Jawan" alongside Vikrant Massey for "12th Fail", which was named the best feature film.
The Awards, announced for the year 2023 by jury head and filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, recognised Bollywood star Rani Mukerji in the best actress category for "Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway". It is also her career's first National Film Award.
"I’m overwhelmed to have won the National Award for my performance in 'Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway'... For me, this award is also a validation of my 30-year body of work, my dedication to my craft with which I feel a deeply spiritual connection and my passion for cinema and this beautiful film industry of ours," Mukerji, 47, said in a statement.
Gowariker, who directed Shah Rukh in 2004's "Swades", said the 59-year-old actor was recognised for "delivering a powerhouse performance, balancing raw intensity and emotional depth and bringing to life a hero who fights not just enemy but societal boundaries, creating two unforgettable cinema personas".
"Jawan", which minted over Rs 1,100 crore at the worldwide box office, was a high-octane thriller from South filmmaker Atlee and featured SRK in the dual role of Army officer Vikram Rathore and his jailor son Azad.
The filmmaker said it was "quite historic" that one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema got an award for best acting at the National Film Awards "after such a long and prolific career".
Shah Rukh is counted amongst the top stars of Indian cinema ever since he made his debut in 1992 with Hindi film "Deewana".
"Yes, it is amazing... Him getting (the award) for 'Jawan' is something that is great because he's played a double role in that," Gowariker told reporters after the announcement.
The jury praised Massey's performance as one that portrayed the transformative journey of a village boy with "raw honesty and emotional depth".
In a statement, Massey, 38, said it was a dream come true moment for him.
"I am eternally grateful to the audiences for honouring my performances and for recommending this film with such love. It is a privilege to be sharing my first National Award with an icon like Shah Rukh Khan," he added.
Filmmaker Karan Johar's "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Kahaani" was named the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment while Meghna Gulzar-directorial "Sam Bahadur" was recognised as the best film promoting national, social and environmental values.
“I am ecstatic and overwhelmed to win the national award for a film exceptionally close to my heart 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani'. I am grateful to the jury and continue to be humbled by the enormous love the film continues to receive," Johar, 53, said in a statement.
Vaibhavi Merchant won the best choreography award for "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" song "Dhindhora Baaje". Shilpa Rao was named best female playback singer for "Jawan" track "Chaleya".
A biopic on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, "Sam Bahadur" was also named in categories for make-up and costume.
"Immense honour and gratitude, there’s serenity in me. I know how much my parents particularly my father was missing this (National award) for me. So, for me this is something that has been filled for him. For me that's what makes it so special and for it to happen on 'Sam Bahadur' is all the more special," Meghna, daughter cinema veterans Gulzar and actor Rakhee, told PTI.
Filmmaker Sudipto Sen won the best director award for his film "The Kerala Story", which also bagged the honour for best cinematography. The film had courted controversy for its portrayal of women in Kerala being forcefully converted and recruited by terror group Islamic State.
"It's a difficult topic, and to convey that with this kind of clarity is something that we as a jury felt was the need to applaud," Gowariker said when asked why "The Kerala Story" was chosen for best direction.
Sanya Malhotra-starrer "Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery" was named the best Hindi film.
While Hindi cinema ruled in the main categories, regional movies were recognised in categories such as best supporting actor as well as actress and in technical segments.
Vijayaraghavan for Malayalam film "Pookalam", Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar for Tamil film "Parking" shared the best supporting actor trophy.
The best supporting actress honour went to Urvashi for Malayalam movie "Ullozhokku" and Janki Bodiwala for Gujarati title "Vash". Both movies won best films in their respective language segments.
Ashish Bende's Marathi film bagged the award for the best debut film of a director.
Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comic) went to Telugu film "Hanu-Man", which also won the best action direction award.
"Animal", another Hindi blockbuster of 2023, won awards for best sound design, best music director (background music) and a special mention for re-recording mixer.
The National Award for best screenplay was shared between Telugu movie "Baby" and Tamil film "Parking". "Baby" singer PVN S Rohit was recognised as the best male playback singer for the song "Premisthunna".
The best music director for songs went to G V Prakash for Tamil movie "Vaathi". Kasarla Shyam was named best lyricist for Telugu movie "Balagam" song 'Ooru Palleturu".
Deepak Kingrani was named best dialogue writer for Manoj Bajpayee-fronted Hindi film "Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai" and best editing went to Malayalam title "Pookkaalam" and production design to another Malayalam movie "2018".
Sukriti Veni Bandreddi ("Gandhi Tatha Chettu"), Kabir Khandare ("Gypsy") and "Naal 2" cast members Treesha Thosar, Shrinivas Pokale, and Bhargav Jagtap were recognised in the best child artists category. "Naal 2" was also named best children's film.
In the language film categories, the winners were -- "Rongatapu 1982" (Assamese), "Deep Fridge" (Bengali), "Parking" (Tamil), "Kandeelu" (Kannada), "Shamchi Aai" (Marathi), "Puskara" (Odia), "Godday Godday Chaa" (Punjabi) and "Bhagavanth Kesari" (Telugu).
The winners for various non-feature categories were also announced with Hindi movie "Flowering Man" being named the best film, while the best documentary went to "God Vulture and Human". The best director award was bagged by Piyush Thakur for "The First Film" and the best script went to Chidananda Nayak's Kannada short film "Sunflowers were the First Ones to Know".
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Rohit identifies Arshdeep, Hardik as key to India's chances in T20 World Cup
New Delhi (PTI): T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma reckons all-rounder Hardik Pandya and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh will hold the key to India's prospects in the upcoming edition of the tournament.
Defending champions India will enter the T20 showpiece as one of the overwhelming favourites due to their massive depth and quality.
Rohit highlighted Arshdeep's effectiveness with the new ball and at the death.
"It is a big positive to have both Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh together because they always attack for wickets. Arshdeep's biggest strength is swinging the new ball and taking early wickets. He mainly bowls with the new ball and at the death. Starting and finishing are the most important phases, and he is strong in both," Rohit told JioHotstar.
"With the new ball, he swings it to get left-handers caught in the slips and targets the pads of right-handers. He has also started taking the ball away from right-handers. These skills are key for a new-ball bowler. He always tries to take wickets, which is why he bowls the first over."
Rohit added, "In the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, he did a great job. I still remember he dismissed Quinton de Kock when he was set and batting well. In the 19th over, he gave away just two or three runs, which built pressure on the South Africans.
"That is his game, bowling with the new ball and at the death, and he will play a key role for India in the 2026 T20 World Cup."
India won the last edition of the tournament in the Americas under Rohit's captaincy, after which the dashing opener retired from the T20 format internationally.
Rohit also spoke about how Hardik's dual role as a finisher and multi-phase bowler provides crucial balance to the Indian team.
"Whenever Hardik Pandya is in the team, his role is huge. He bats and bowls very consistently. His batting is crucial when the team is stuck. If we have a score of 160 on the board in 15-16 overs and Hardik is batting, then he's the one who can help the team reach 210-220 from there or if we are 50 for 4, he has to build the innings.
"Batting in the middle order at 5, 6, or 7 is very tough. That is why Hardik's role is critical in any format. We know his bowling. He bowls in key phases, with the new ball, in the middle and in the death as well. His role is very important because he gives the team balance, letting us play six bowlers and keep our batting deep."
Rohit said accommodating both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy together in the playing XI is going to be a big challenge for the Indian team management.
"The biggest challenge for captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir will be how to play both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy together. If you want that combination, you can only do it if you play with two seamers, which is a big challenge.
"But honestly, I would be tempted to play both Varun and Kuldeep because they are wicket-takers and batters struggle to read them. I would surely pick them."
The former India skipper added, "Looking at the conditions in India, like in this New Zealand series, there is a lot of dew. In February and March, dew will be heavy across most parts as winter ends.
"Even in Mumbai, which doesn't get cold, there's still dew. I'd say 90-95 percent of grounds in India have dew. That's the challenge. What do the coach and captain think? Are they comfortable with three spinners? Then they can play spin, but there's no fixed rule. It depends on the team leaders' thinking."
Rohit also urged Kuldeep to stop appealing on every ball and to rely on the wicketkeeper's judgment for reviews.
"My one simple advice to Kuldeep is to just bowl quietly and go back to his mark. You can't appeal on every ball. This is basic. I keep saying it, but it still happens often. Even after telling him many times, he appeals at every chance. You have to use your head. Just because it touches the pad, it doesn't mean it's out every time. This isn't gully cricket.
"I get he is enthusiastic, but think of the team first. Each team only gets two DRS reviews. If I was the keeper, I could see where the ball pitched and if it was hitting, I could tell the bowler.
"But from covers or slip, you don't know the angle. You have to listen to what the keeper and bowler say. That's why when there's a review off Kuldeep's bowling, I don't look at him, I look at the keeper to decide."
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in venues across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
