70th National Film Awards 2024: Sooraj Barjatya, Neena Gupta react to Uunchai’s win; Manoj Bajpayee, Pritam, Manasi Parekh and Pavan Malhotra express excitement

The National Film Awards ceremony is a celebration of the Indian film industry's rich heritage and its continued evolution.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

October 8, 2024 - 5:16 PM IST

The prestigious 70^th National Film Awards ceremony is taking place today at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The event, which recognizes the best of the Indian film industry for the year 2022, is being graced by the presence of President Droupadi Murmu. The National Film Awards are the highest honors bestowed upon filmmakers in India. The awards are given in various categories, including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Music. Ahead of the award show, Neena Gupta, Manoj Bajpayee, Sharmila Tagore, Sooraj Barjatya, Pritam, Pavan Malhotra and Manasi Parekh discussed their respective wins with Doordarshan.

70th National Film Awards 2024: Sooraj Barjatya, Neena Gupta react to Uunchai’s win; Manoj Bajpayee, Pritam, Manasi Parekh and Pavan Malhotra express excitement

NEENA GUPTA:
Speaking about winning Best Supporting Actress for Sooraj Barjatya’s Uunchai, she said, “It was very special for me. I always wanted to work with Sooraj Ji. I was working with all the 'dhurandar' actors, like Amitabh Bachchan Ji, Anupam Kher Ji, and Sarika Ji, and it was a great experience. This is my fourth National Award, and I want more because a National Award is a National Award.”

Exclusive interaction with actress #NeenaGupta as she receives the #70thNationalFilmAward for Best Supporting Actress for the film 'Uunchai'.@MIB_India @nfdcindia @PIB_India @AshwiniVaishnaw @Murugan_MoS @Films_Division @prasarbharati #70thNationalFilmAwards… pic.twitter.com/ZtABPPgGnJ
— Doordarshan National दूरदर्शन नेशनल (@DDNational) October 8, 2024

SHARMILA TAGORE:
The veteran actress Sharmila Tagore came to support Gulmohar director Rahul V. Chittella, whose film has received the Best Hindi Film award. Before heading to the ceremony, she expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "Gulmohar is my favourite film, and I am here to cheer for Rahul. People are still watching and enjoying the film. It is popular among all age groups.”

#Doordarshan had an exclusive conversation with the evergreen Sharmila Tagore on the red carpet of the #70thNationalFilmAwards.@MIB_India @nfdcindia @PIB_India @AshwiniVaishnaw @Murugan_MoS @Films_Division @prasarbharati #NationalFilmAwards2024 #NFAWithDD #NFA pic.twitter.com/CYxUAcxLgZ
— Doordarshan National दूरदर्शन नेशनल (@DDNational) October 8, 2024

MANOJ BAJPAYEE:
Manoj Bajpayee received a National Award for his performance in Gulmohar, recognized in the Special Mention category.

Cinema's Finest! Actor @BajpayeeManoj graces the #70thNationalFilmAwards with charm and chats with #Doordarshan.@MIB_India @nfdcindia @PIB_India @AshwiniVaishnaw @Murugan_MoS @Films_Division @prasarbharati #NationalFilmAwards2024 #NFAWithDD #NFA pic.twitter.com/llW6GC8GbP
— Doordarshan National दूरदर्शन नेशनल (@DDNational) October 8, 2024

PAVAN MALHOTRA:
Pavan, who won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Fouja, expressed his joy at this recognition. This marks his second National Film Award win, celebrating his impressive contributions to cinema.

Team Fouja's big win at the 70th National Film Awards is a tribute to the Indian Army.@MIB_India @nfdcindia @PIB_India @AshwiniVaishnaw @Murugan_MoS @Films_Division @prasarbharati #70thNationalFilmAwards #NationalFilmAwards2024 #NFAWithDD #NFA pic.twitter.com/jiVTY91GGO
— Doordarshan National दूरदर्शन नेशनल (@DDNational) October 8, 2024

MANASI PAREKH
Manasi Parekh shared her excitement about winning the Best Actress award for her Gujarati film Kutch Express, which she also produced. "I was very happy when I learned about the National Award win. When this film came to me, people said, 'Why are you making this film since it has two women at the centre of the story? We don't make such films in Gujarati cinema.' But we still made it. While making it, we realized we were creating something very special,” she said.

Actress @manasi_parekh dazzles on the red carpet of the 70th National Film Awards! @MIB_India @nfdcindia @PIB_India @AshwiniVaishnaw @Murugan_MoS @Films_Division @prasarbharati #70thNationalFilmAwards #NationalFilmAwards2024 #NFAWithDD #NFA pic.twitter.com/zbAxtV84vT
— Doordarshan National दूरदर्शन नेशनल (@DDNational) October 8, 2024

SOORAJ BARJATYA:
At the pre-interview, the director talked about Uunchai and said, “The story has existed since 2016, but I initially hesitated to make it because it was outside my comfort zone. I had never shot outside my studio, and this project required me to do so. When the pandemic hit, there was a sense of gloom, and I felt it was time to challenge myself. I wrote the script in three months during that period. It’s truly a dream team for any director. Everyone delivered one-take shots. From taking the crew to high altitudes, organising choppers and doctors, to walking for hours and building stairs and roads—everything posed a challenge.”

Legendary director Sooraj Barjatya graces the red carpet of the #70thNationalFilmAwards and engages in an exclusive conversation with #Doordarshan.@MIB_India @nfdcindia @PIB_India @AshwiniVaishnaw @Murugan_MoS @Films_Division @prasarbharati #NationalFilmAwards2024 #NFAWithDD… pic.twitter.com/nu4p3pYMJc
— Doordarshan National दूरदर्शन नेशनल (@DDNational) October 8, 2024

PRITAM:
Music composer Pritam discussed his experience of creating the score for Brahmastra, which earned him a National Award. He said, "The movie had a sense of mysticism, so we had to maintain a balance between the commercial element and mythology. Creating that balance was an exciting part of it."

Musical Magic! @ipritamofficial dazzles on the #70thNationalFilmAwards red carpet and sings a soulful song.@MIB_India @nfdcindia @PIB_India @AshwiniVaishnaw @Murugan_MoS @Films_Division @prasarbharati #NationalFilmAwards2024 #NFAWithDD #NFA pic.twitter.com/PHaktmEZvZ
— Doordarshan National दूरदर्शन नेशनल (@DDNational) October 8, 2024

The recipients of this year's National Film Awards were announced in August. The highly acclaimed Kannada film KGF Chapter 2 emerged as a major winner, bagging the awards for Best Kannada Film and Best Action Direction. The film's lead actor, Yash, was also honoured with the Best Actor in a Leading Role award.

Another notable winner was the Kannada film Kantara, which earned its director, Rishab Shetty, the Best Actor in a Leading Role award. The film was also praised for its stunning visuals and its portrayal of local culture.

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva also made a significant impact at the awards ceremony. The film won the Best Male Playback Singer award for Arijit Singh's soulful rendition of the song ‘Kesariya’. It also bagged the Best Film in the AVGC category (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comic) and the Best VFX Film awards.

The National Film Awards ceremony is a celebration of the Indian film industry's rich heritage and its continued evolution. The awards recognize the talent and hard work of filmmakers from all over the country.