There were some big winners at the 68th National Film Awards, which was announced by the PIB’s (Press Information Bureau) yesterday. From Suriya’s Soorarai Pottru to Ajay Devgn’s Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, films across languages went home with the prestigious award in different categories. And in case you’re wondering where you can watch these titles, we have got you covered. Here’s where you can stream some of the National Film Award-winning films.
Vaanku – Special Mention
Streaming on: ZEE5
Written by Unni R (of Leela, Ozhivudivasathe Kali fame), the film’s about Razia, a college student who wants to recite the azaan just once in her life. Can a young girl’s voice ever take the place of God’s himself?
Avwanchhit – Special Mention
Streaming on: ZEE5
A rich portrayal of a father/son relationship, this film is the collision of their worlds. Set against the backdrop of modern Kolkata, this film is a story of two generations.
Colour Photo – Best Telugu Film
Streaming on: Aha
Sandeep Raj’s Colour Photo (Sandeep also wrote the film based on a story by Sai Rajesh) is set in the 1990s, and it has many elements of the romantic melodramas from that era (and even earlier).
Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengallum- Best Tamil Film, Best Editing, Best Supporting Actress
Streaming on: Sony Liv
In Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum, which had its world premiere at the Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival with Star, the geography explores the confines of a house and the confines of patriarchy — but this is still about three women, as imagined in the writings of three men.
Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam– Best Malayalam Film
Streaming on: Sony Liv
Set in North Kerala’s Kanhangad, Senna Hegde’s detailed second film strings together a series of miniature events that fit together perfectly in a hilarious family photo
Toolsidas Junior – Best Hindi Film
Streaming on: Netflix
Toolsidas Junior is a heartwarming film about a young boy’s dream to fulfill his father’s dream. Inspired by true events, this film follows the relationship between the father and son, along with their trials and tribulations.
Avijatrik- Best Bengali Film, Best Cinematography
Streaming on: Beta Series
Avijatrik is a continuation of Apu’s journey from his character arc that was left off at the end of Apur Sansar. It is the final film of the trilogy.
AK Ayyappanum Koshiyum – Best Action Direction, Best Female Singer, Best Supporting Actor, Best Direction
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
Like Sachy’s most recent film Driving Licence, Ayyapanum Koshiyum is very much a duel between two men and their egos. And like the former, what separates the men in AK is the thick line of law, which is ironically, meant to be the same for all.
Natyam- Best Choreography, Best Make-Up Artist
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
The film, which unfolds in an ancient village, follows the life of Sitara, a dancer who decides to stage a forbinnden play.
Saina- Best Lyrics
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
Saina is a sports biopic of badminton star Saina Nehwal, starring Parineeti Chopra in the lead.
Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo – Best Music Direction (Songs)
Streaming on: Netflix
The film starring Allu Arjun in the lead, is about Bantu, a smart young man who yearns for respect from his father. And little does he know that his lineage is not as simple as he thinks it is.
Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior – Best Costume Designer, Best Actor, Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar
Director Om Raut chooses a vivid, graphic novel-ish rendition of the 17th century conflict between the Marathas and the Mughals for the Southern fort of Kondhana. Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior stars Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan and Kajol, among others.
Kappela – Best Production Design
Streaming on: Netflix
In Kappela, the mobile phone is as good as a living, breathing character. Even the film’s central “meet-cute” revolves around the calling of a wrong number. Jessie (Anna Ben) gets just one digit of a phone number wrong, when an auto-rickshaw driver named Vishnu (Roshan Mathew) starts calling her back.
Malik – Best Audiography (Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track)
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
The film, which is headlined by Fahadh Faasil, follows Freddy, a juvenile criminal, who plots the murder of Sulaimaan, his ageing patriarch-uncle.
Soorarai Pottru – Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Feature Film, Best Background Score
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
The Suriya starrer follows the life of Maaran, who fights hard to make his dream of starting a low-cost airline service, a reality.
Mandela – Best Dialogue Writer, Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of Director
Streaming on: Netflix
Mandela, starring Yogi Babu, is The New York Times meets Amar Chitra Katha, a superb comic book treatment of a serious issue: what money and caste do to our elections.
Taledanda – Best Film on Environment Conservation
Streaming on: ZEE5
Taledanda follows the story of Kunnegowda, an intellectually challenged Soliga tribe member. It’s the story of how he fights for the protection of greenery when a politician makes a plan to wipe out a green belt.
Oh That’s Bhanu – Best Direction
Streaming on: MUBI
A different kind of loss permeates RV Ramani’s Oh That’s Bhanu. It’s an extraordinary account of Bhanumathi Rao, a renowned classical dancer and theatre actor, now in her mid-90s.
1232 Kms: Marenge Toh Wahin Jaakar – Best Music Direction
Streaming on: Hotstar
It is a 2021 Hindi language documentary directed by Vinod Kapri. It follows the lives of Indian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Borderlands – Best Editing
Streaming on: MUBI
Through six intercut stories that run the gamut from tragic to uplifting, the documentary depicts the sacrifices and rewards that accompany the decision to move across a national border.
Pearl of the Desert – Best Audiography
Streaming on: MUBI
Pearl of Desert follows Moti Khan, a musically gifted child from the marginalised community Muslim Manganiyars, of the Thar desert. He is forced to sing and play music for their ancestral patrons to fight to survive.
Shabdikkunna Kalappa – Best Cinematography
Streaming on: Youtube
An adaptation of Ponkunnam Varkey’s short story of the same title, the short is directed by Jayaraj, and narrates the story of a relationship between a farmer and his ox.
On the Brink Season 2- Bats – Best Science and Technology Film
Streaming on: Earth Touch
This series delves into the hidden splendors of India’s natural world. It explores the species and inhabitants of this space in great detail.
Dreaming of Words – Best Educational Film
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
Dreaming of words follows a fourth grade drop-out, Njattyela Sreedharan, as he compiles a dictionary connecting major Dravidian languages. We see him travel across states to do extensive research.
The Saviour: Brig Pritam Singh – Best Investigative Film
Streaming on: ZEE5
The documentary largely focuses on the adventures of soldier Brig. Pritam Singh.