70th National Film Awards: Sooraj Barjatya Wins Best Director for Uunchai, Rishabh Shetty Takes Best Actor for Kantara

At the 70th National Film Awards, Rishabh Shetty’s remarkable work in the Kannada film *Kantara* stood out as one of the year’s biggest accomplishments. Shetty’s dual role as both actor and director earned him the Best Actor award. In *Kantara*, Shetty plays a village strongman who discovers his true calling as his community’s protector. The film has not only garnered critical acclaim but also became the highest-grossing Kannada film after the *KGF* franchise.

This year, the awards, which were announced at 1:30 PM, recognized films certified in 2022, showcasing the rich diversity and creativity of Indian cinema. 

In a celebration of female talent, the Best Actress award was shared by Nithya Menen for her role in *Thiruchitrambalam* and Manasi Parekh for her performance in *Kutch Express*. This tie highlights the exceptional contributions of women in Indian filmmaking.

Sooraj Barjatya won the Best Director award for *Uunchai*, a film featuring an impressive cast led by Amitabh Bachchan. Neena Gupta also received recognition, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role in the same film.

The Malayalam film *Aattam* won the National Award for Best Film. Directed by Anand Ekarshi, the movie delves into the harrowing experience of a female theatre troupe member who is sexually assaulted by the male lead during a retreat at a farmhouse. The film’s gripping narrative is summed up in its official description: “A crime in sight, a fortune at stake. The play is not limited to the stage.” *Aattam*Ekarshi’s directorial debut, is presently streaming on Prime Video and features performances by Sudheer Babu, Zarin Shihab, and Vinay Forrt.

In other categories, the Best Hindi Film award went to *Gulmohar*, a family drama streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. The film stars actors Manoj Bajpayee, Sharmila Tagore, Amol Palekar, Suraj Sharma, and Simran. Directed by Rahul Chittella, the screenplay was co-written by Chittella and Arpita Mukherjee.

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