Pesident Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, presented the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 to actor Mohanlal and honored other winners at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony. The event celebrated excellence in Indian cinema and highlighted films conveying strong social messages.
Mohanlal Receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Mohanlal, upon receiving the country’s highest cinema honor, said:
“Cinema is the heartbeat of my soul. Jai Hind!”
President Murmu praised Mohanlal’s contribution, noting that he has portrayed a remarkable range of emotions on screen, whether subtle or intense.
Appreciation for Women-Centric Films
The President emphasized the importance of films focused on women and their recognition:
She said:
“We all see that women struggle with patriarchal and biased mindsets at various levels. Today’s award-winning films include mothers shaping their children’s moral character, women challenging social norms, and brave women raising their voices against patriarchal structures.”
This highlights how Indian cinema is now leading in bringing sensitive social issues to the forefront.
Female Representation and Equal Opportunities
President Murmu stated that women should have adequate representation in central and regional jury panels.
She further added that when given equal opportunities, women can excel in every field, sending a strong message of gender equality and encouragement in the film industry.
Cinema’s Social Message and Impact on Youth
The President emphasized that cinema is not just a medium of entertainment but also a tool for social awareness and instilling sensitivity in the youth.
She said that films should not only be popular but also contribute to public interest.
Appreciation for Children and Young Artists
This year, six child artists were honored.
President Murmu mentioned that films focusing on children, especially girls, help spread positive messages in society.
She stated:
“I am happy that everyone involved in cinema shares the Indian sensitivity and consciousness, which connects all regional communities.”
List of Major Award Winners
At the 71st National Film Awards, the major awards were:
- Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan – Jawan, Vikrant Massey – 12th Fail
- Best Actress: Rani Mukerji – Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway
- Best Direction: Sudipto Sen – The Kerala Story
- Best Cinematography: Prasantanu Mohapatra – The Kerala Story
- Best Singer: Male – P.V.N.S. Rohit (Baby – Telugu), Female – Shilpa Rao (Baby – Telugu)
These awards showcased the diversity and quality of Indian cinema.
Success in Special Categories and Films
- Best Debut Film: Ashish Bende – Aatmapamphlet (Marathi)
- Popular Film (Entertainment): Directed by Karan Johar – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
- Best Film with National, Social, and Environmental Values: Meghna Gulzar – Sam Bahadur
- Best Child Film: Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti – Naal 2 (Marathi)
- Best Animation/Visual Effects/Gaming/Comic Film: Hanu-Man (Telugu)
These awards indicate that Indian cinema presents diverse stories across multiple languages and genres.
Recognition for Supporting Roles and Child Artists
- Best Supporting Actor: Vijayaraghavan – Pookkaalam (Malayalam), Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar – Parking (Tamil)
- Best Supporting Actress: Urvashi – Ullozhukku (Malayalam), Janki Bodivala – Vash (Gujarati)
- Best Child Artists: Sukriti Veni Bandreddi – Gandhi Tatha Chettu (Telugu), Kabir Khandare – Gypsy (Marathi), Trisha Thosar, Srinivas Pokle, and Bhargav Jagatap – Naal 2
These awards prove that Indian cinema recognizes not only lead actors but also small artists and emerging talents.
Excellence in Music, Technical, and Other Categories
- Sound Design: Animal (Hindi) – Sachin Sudhakaran & Hariharan Muralidharan
- Editing: Madhun Murli – Pookkaalam
- Production Design: Mohandas – 2018: Everyone Is A Hero
- Music Direction: G.V. Prakash Kumar – Vaathi (Tamil), Harshvardhan Rameshwar – Animal (Hindi)
- Lyricist: Karsalra Shyam – Ooru Palleturu (Balagam, Telugu)
- Best Dance Direction: Vaibhavi Merchant – Dhindhora Baje Re, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
- Best Action Direction: Nandu Pradvi – Hanu-Man
Makeup, costume, dialogue writing, and non-feature categories were also recognized for excellence.
Linguistic Diversity and National Identity
This year, films in multiple languages were honored:
- Assamese: Rongatapu 1982
- Bengali: Deep Fridge
- Tamil: Parking
- Kannada: Kandeelu
- Marathi: Shamchi Aai
- Odia: Puskara
- Punjabi: Godday Godday Chaa
- Telugu: Bhagavanth Kesari
In non-feature categories, Hindi film Flowering Man was declared the best film.
According to President Murmu, this shows that Indian cinema can convey cultural and social messages at local, national, and global levels.
Conclusion
The 71st National Film Awards ceremony proved that Indian cinema is not just a medium of entertainment but also a conduit for social awareness, women’s empowerment, child rights, and national identity.
This year’s winners, including Mohanlal, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Vikrant Massey, have elevated the legacy of Indian cinema with their artistry, dedication, and hard work.
The ceremony also recognized new talents, linguistic diversity, and technical excellence, making it a memorable celebration.
The 71st National Film Awards 2023 demonstrated that every story, actor, and technical contribution in Indian cinema is deserving of recognition and honor.
