September 21, 17:36Aaj Tak

72nd National Film Award to be held in Gujarat: Shows expected at Statue of Unity and Gujarati cuisine

In anticipation of the 72nd National Film Award, a grand event is being prepared near the Statue of Unity in the state of Gujarat. For this star-studded ceremony, which will take place on September 22nd in Ekta Nagar Kevadia, a large tent is being constructed, a huge air-conditioned dome is being set up, and various special arrangements have been organized.

This event is being held outside of Delhi for the first time in 72 years. India has received exclusive photos of the venue near the Statue of Unity, showcasing the first views of the decorated site for one of the largest annual film ceremonies.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22nd, starting at 3:00 PM. A large tent, capable of accommodating approximately 1000 people, has been built near the Statue of Unity, and a separate air-conditioned dome is being prepared for over 1000 VIP guests. Guests will also be served Gujarati-style dishes.

This dome was constructed using high-tech German construction. Special facilities are provided here for filmmakers, government officials, and other respected individuals participating in the ceremony. Additionally, a laser light and sound show will be organized.

Guests from the film industry have begun arriving in Kevadia. Among them is Kartik Aaryan, who will receive the award for Best Actor for the film 'Chandu Champion'. In addition to many other Bollywood celebrities, artists and technical specialists from regional cinema will also participate in the event.

President Murmu, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrath, and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel are expected to attend the ceremony. Senior ministers and officials from the governments of Gujarat and the center are also expected to participate in the program.

Among the recognized names are Kartik, who shares the Best Actor award with Malayalam star Mammootty. Kartik receives this award for 'Chandu Champion', while Mammootty received it for 'Brahmayugam'. The film 'Article 370' is awarded Best Feature Film, and Yami Gautam will be honored with Best Actress for this film. Randeep Hooda will receive recognition as Best Debut Director for 'Swatantrata Veer Savarkar', and 'Bhangar' won the Best Non-Feature Film award.

A total of 92 artists will be honored at the 72nd National Film Award. There will also be a special presentation for actor Anant Nag, as he will receive the Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2024. Viewers can watch the 72nd National Film Award live on the DD National YouTube channel on September 22nd at 3:00 PM (IST).

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www.aajtak.inSeptember 8, 14:36

National Film Awards to be held in Gujarat after 72 years; director questions regional choice

A tradition spanning 72 years is being broken: the National Film Awards this year will take place not in Delhi, but in Kevadia, Gujarat state. This government decision has drawn criticism from filmmakers, particularly director Rahul Dholakia.

Rahul Dholakia expressed doubt regarding the selection of Gujarat, suggesting that if the decision was made to move the ceremony outside of Delhi, states or cities that have made significant contributions to Indian cinema could have been considered. He named regions such as Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Hyderabad.

On Tuesday morning, Rahul Dholakia posted his thoughts on his X account, noting that it was not essential for him for the awards to be held in Delhi. However, he questioned the reasons for choosing Gujarat specifically for the relocation of the event. The filmmaker emphasized that when breaking a long-standing tradition, the right to receive this award should go to the regions that have made substantial contributions to the film industry.

He directly asked why Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, as well as the city of Hyderabad, were not taken into account. Dholakia, who himself is a recipient of the National Film Award, received the award for Best Director in 2007 for the film 'Parjania,' which is based on the events of the 2002 riots in Gujarat. Furthermore, his 2017 film 'Rais,' starring Shah Rukh Khan, was also shot against the backdrop of Gujarat.

Despite not denying the importance of Gujarati cinema, Dholakia noted that the major center of the film industry in Gujarat has historically been located in cities like Ahmedabad, whereas the ceremony is scheduled for Kevadia. At the same time, he reminded that Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra have served as a strong foundation for Hindi and Marathi cinema for decades, Chennai as the center of Tamil cinema, and Hyderabad as a major hub for Telugu cinema.

The main feature of this year is that for the first time in 72 years, the ceremony will be held outside of Delhi. The first National Film Awards were held at Vidyan Bhavan in Delhi in 1954, and most subsequent events were also held there. Now, a significant change is occurring in this tradition.

The ceremony will take place in Kevadia, Gujarat, also known as Ekta Nagar, where the world's tallest statue—the Statue of Unity—is located. This 597-foot statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is scheduled for September 22 in Kevadia, where the President Draupadi Murmu will present the awards. The list of winners also caused widespread discussion: the film 'Article 370' received the award for Best Feature Film, and lead actress Yami Gautam was recognized as Best Actress. The Best Actor award was jointly given to Malayalam superstar Mammootty for 'Brahmagyam' and Kartik Aaryan for 'Chandu Champion.' Randeep Hudda received the award for Best Debut Director for 'Swatantrya Vir Savarkar,' and the Telugu film Naga Ashwin's 'Kalki 2898 AD' will be recognized for Best Popular Film, providing comprehensive entertainment. The Tamil film 'Captain Miller,' featuring Dhanush, was chosen as Best Feature Film promoting national, social, and environmental values.

Thus, the relocation of the National Film Awards ceremony from Delhi to Gujarat has sparked a new debate: if the tradition is changing after 72 years, shouldn't a region with rich historical contributions to cinema have been chosen?