Cinema VinesIn a moment that felt almost cinematic, director Aanand L Rai stepped out of an editing suite on a Saturday evening and found himself holding a National Film Award. At the 72nd National Film Awards, announced on Saturday, Rai was honoured with the Best Director award in the non‑feature film category for his documentary “Statue Of Unity: Ekta Ka Prateek.” The news came as a surprise to the filmmaker, who had spent the afternoon in the editing room and had left the room at about 7:30 p.m. with his phone on silent, only to discover a flurry of messages waiting for him. “It comes like a blessing that the intent you did your work with is appreciated for that intent as someone is watching it,” he said, reflecting on the unexpected recognition.
Rai, who has mainly worked in feature films, described the documentary experience as a new avenue that taught him valuable lessons. “You should not limit yourself,” he said. “The one good thing that you learn from such recognition is that you have to keep doing something new in life. I was more into feature films, so this was my first time doing a documentary, but the process remains the same. You have to follow your gut and instincts and that paid off.” He added that the project offered a different screenplay and storytelling style, which made the experience both exciting and educational.
The documentary also marked a reunion with actor‑producer Akshay Kumar, who presented the film at the awards ceremony. Rai spoke warmly of the collaboration, noting that Kumar’s positive energy made every project enjoyable. “He is a very happy and positive man, so whatever we collaborate on, it comes with happiness,” he said. “He brings so much joy to whatever we are creating, and the energies are different.” After the announcement, Rai called Kumar and joked that even if they hadn’t won any other awards together, the National Film Award had come “in the same way.”
Rai expressed pride in the team’s achievement, describing the moment as a proud feeling to have collaborated on a project that received such recognition. The award not only highlights his versatility as a filmmaker but also underscores the growing impact of documentary cinema in India’s national awards circuit.
