Cinema VinesThe 72nd National Film Awards, announced on Saturday evening, delivered a mix of surprises and well-deserved accolades. Among the winners was composer Shashwat Sachdev, who took home the National Award for Best Music Direction for his work on the film Article 370. In a statement to us, Sachdev described the honor as a moment of gratitude rather than a personal triumph, insisting that the award belonged equally to those who had believed in him long before it was announced.
“I would dedicate this award to my parents and my guru, Ustad Ramzan Khan Sahab, without a second thought,” Sachdev said. He went on to explain that their faith in his musical aspirations had been unwavering, even before any external recognition came his way. He acknowledged the sacrifices they made, many of which he only fully understood later, allowing him to learn, practice, and grow as a musician.
Calling the award a collective achievement, Sachdev added, “An award may have one person’s name on it, but the journey behind it is rarely one person’s alone. This belongs to them as much as it belongs to me.” He expressed hope that his continued work would continue to make them proud.
The win caught Sachdev off guard, as he was traveling abroad at the time of the announcement. “Honestly, I did not expect it at all,” he said. While on a flight to Europe for a recording session, he was unaware of the news back home. Upon landing, he found 18 missed calls from his wife, who had also left a voicemail reassuring him that it was good news. She was the first to break the news to him, and he recalled the initial surprise giving way to a deep sense of happiness and gratitude.
Adding to the significance of the moment, Article 370 was also named Best Feature Film at the National Film Awards. Sachdev noted that a film is a collaborative effort, and the recognition felt like a celebration for the entire team. He emphasized that an award is “a beautiful moment of appreciation, but never as an individual achievement,” highlighting the sacrifices of family, the faith of collaborators, and the collective effort that enabled the best possible outcome.
He credited filmmaker Aditya Dhar for granting him the creative freedom to shape the film’s soundscape. “I feel incredibly fortunate that Aditya Dhar gave me the space to express myself through a story of this scale and significance,” Sachdev said. He added that while the National Award is a great honor, the real reward lies in knowing that the music resonated with people. He hopes to continue earning that resonance, one piece of work at a time.
Sachdev also reflected on his philosophy toward awards, stating, “I have always believed that you are only as good as your last piece of work. So I do not want an award to become a place where I stop and admire myself for too long. I would rather allow it to make me more responsible, more curious and perhaps a little braver about the work I choose next.”
