Cinema VinesThe National Film Awards, announced this Saturday, celebrated the achievements of Indian cinema for releases in 2024. The ceremony highlighted successes not only in feature films but also in the non‑feature category, bringing a wave of pride across the Hindi film industry.
In a standout moment, filmmaker Aanand L. Rai was honored as Best Director in the non‑feature section for his documentary “Statue of Unity: Ekta Ka Prateek.” The film, which explores the iconic monument, was presented by actor Akshay Kumar. Kumar expressed his joy and pride in a conversation with HT City, saying, “I am delighted that Anand L. Rai has received this honour for his brilliant direction of Statue of Unity – Ekta ka Prateek. I feel fortunate to have presented such an inspiring documentary on the landmark monument.”
Other notable recognitions at the awards included the Best Actor in a Leading Role shared between Mammootty for the Malayalam film “Bramayugam” and Kartik Aaryan for the Hindi film “Chandu Champion.” Yami Gautam Dhar was named Best Actor in a Leading Role – Female for her performance in “Article 370,” while Sanjay Mishra earned the Best Supporting Actor award for his work in “Bhakshak.”
The ceremony underscored the breadth of talent across Indian cinema, celebrating both established stars and emerging voices in a night that honored artistic excellence across multiple categories.
