South Indian films shine at 70th National Film Awards: A look at the top winners
South Indian cinema made a huge mark at the 70th National Film Awards in 2024. Here's a list of the winners from the South region.
Updated : August 16, 2024 03:57 PM ISTSouth Indian cinema made a huge mark at the 70th National Film Awards in 2024. Here's a list of the winners from the South region.
South movies that won at the 70th National Film Awards.
South Indian cinema had a remarkable showing at the 70th National Film Awards in 2024, with several regional films and talents winning top awards.
The Kannada blockbuster Kantara led the charge, winning both Best Actor in a Leading Role for Rishab Shetty and Best Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film, which captured the essence of folklore and traditional practices of coastal Karnataka, took the Indian box office by storm and earned glowing reviews from critics nationwide.
Filmmaker Prashanth Neel's KGF: Chapter 2 continued its winning streak by clinching awards for Best Kannada Film and Best Action Direction, thanks to the brilliant stunt choreography by Anbariv. Starring Kannada superstar Yash, KGF 2 marked a pivotal moment in the history of Kannada cinema. The film earned more than Rs 1000 crore in ticket sales, significantly elevating the profile of the Kannada film industry.
Tamil cinema also made a strong impact, with Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 securing multiple awards. The film, directed by Mani Ratnam, was named Best Tamil Film and also won Best Music Director (Background Score) for A.R. Rahman, Best Sound Design for Anand Krishnamoorthi, and Best Cinematography for Ravi Varman.
Director Mithran R. Jawahar's Thiruchitrambalam also made waves, with Nithya Menen sharing the Best Leading Actress award, and the film earning Best Choreography honours for Jani Master and Sathish Krishnan. Thiruchitrambalam, starring Dhanush in the lead role, was also a huge box office hit in 2022.
In the Telugu film category, Karthikeya 2, directed by Chandoo Mondeti, won Best Telugu Film. The film, starring Nikhil Siddhartha and Anupama Parameswaran, was celebrated for its thrilling narrative and exploration of mythological themes, resonating with both audiences and critics.
Malayalam cinema made a significant mark as well, with Aattam emerging as one of the biggest winners. Written and directed by Anand Ekarshi, the film won Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay. Saudi Vellakka CC.225/2009 won Best Malayalam Film, and Bombay Jayashri was honoured as Best Female Playback Singer for her soulful rendition of "Chaayun Veyil" in the same film.