Pune: The 70th National Film Awards, recognizing the finest contributions to Indian cinema in 2022, were announced on Friday (August 16), with Marathi cinema emerging as a standout performer.
The awards, which celebrate excellence across feature films, non-feature films, and writings on cinema, saw multiple Marathi films earning top honors in various categories.
The awards ceremony was attended by key dignitaries, including Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Railways, and Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, alongside Dr. L Murugan, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, and Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The selection process was overseen by jury chairpersons Rahul Rawail (Feature Films), Nila Madhab Panda (Non-Feature Films), and Gangadhar Mudalair (Best Writing on Cinema).
Marathi Cinema's Major Wins
Marathi films made a significant impact at the 70th National Film Awards, with several projects being recognized for their exceptional contributions:
Best Marathi Film: VAALVI (The Termite), directed by Paresh Mokashi and produced by Mayasabha Karamanuk Mandali and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., was awarded Best Marathi Film, receiving the Rajat Kamal award and a cash prize of Rs 2,00,000.
Best Arts/Culture Film: VARSA (Legacy), directed and produced by Sachin Balasaheb Suryawanshi, received the Rajat Kamal award and a shared cash prize of Rs 2,00,000. This award was shared with the Kannada film RANGA VIBHOGA (Temple Dance Tradition), directed by Suneel Narasimhachar Puranik.
Best Documentary and Best Narration: MURMURS OF THE JUNGLE, directed by Sohil Vaidya, won the Rajat Kamal award along with a cash prize of Rs 2,00,000. The film’s narration by Sumant Shinde also earned him the Rajat Kamal award for Best Narration/Voice Over, with an additional cash prize of Rs 2,00,000.
Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film: AANAKHI EK MOHENJO DARO (Yet Another Mohenjo Daro), produced by de Goan Studio and Ashok Rane Productions and directed by Ashok Rane, was honored with the Rajat Kamal award and a cash prize of Rs 2,00,000.