National Film Awards 2023: The 69th National Film Awards, held on August 24 in New Delhi, made a victorious return after a two-year break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The winner's circle was filled with new faces at this year's ceremony.
Among them were Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon, who both won their first National Awards for their performances in "Gangubai Kathiawadi" and "Mimi," respectively.
The event also highlighted the talents of famed filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who was recognized not just for his directorial brilliance but also for his editing and screenwriting prowess.
The honours were met with acclaim from fellow industry giants. Even South Indian superstar Allu Arjun, who won Best Actor for his work in "Pushpa: The Rise," rushed to Twitter on August 25 to congratulate Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Preeti Sheel on their well-deserved National Awards.
Arjun's tweet expressed his personal satisfaction at Alia Bhatt's triumph and genuine delight at Kriti Sanon's superb performance in "Mimi."
The message also recognized Sanjay Leela Bhansali's multifarious achievements, recognizing not just his directorial prowess but also his editing prowess, which may have been obscured by his larger-than-life cinematic masterpieces.
Preetisheel Singh D'souza, who excelled in the field of makeup, was also not missed and received accolades from Allu Arjun.
The awards were not only a feather in Bhansali's crown, but also a validation of the film's aesthetic greatness.
The film's enthralling story earned it five National Awards, including Best Actress, which Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon shared for their contrasting yet equally impressive performances.
Bhansali's editing skills were recognized with the Best Editing award, while the film's dialogue, written by Utkarshini Vashishtha and Prakash Kapadia, won the National Award for Best Dialogue.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Utkarshini Vashishtha shared the Best Screenplay prize, emphasizing the film's varied excellence.
Preetisheel Singh D'souza's remarkable makeup artistry was recognized when she won the Best Makeup award for her work on "Gangubai Kathiawadi."