71st National Film Awards: ’12th Fail’ Bags Best Feature Film, Vikrant Massey, Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji Win Top Acting Honours

New Delhi: The winners of the 71st National Film Awards for the year 2023 were announced today, recognizing outstanding achievements in Indian cinema. This edition saw 332 entries in the feature film category, 115 non-feature films, along with 27 books and 16 critics’ submissions.

The critically acclaimed film ‘12th Fail’ won the Best Feature Film award. Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and based on a true story of perseverance and grit, the film has been widely celebrated for its narrative depth and performances.

In the Non-Feature Film category, ‘Flowering Man’ was named Best Non-Feature Film, while ‘God Vulture and Human’ won the Best Documentary award. Both films earned their first-ever National Film Awards, marking a significant achievement for their creators.

In a historic first, Shah Rukh Khan won his maiden National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Jawan, sharing the honour with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail.

Rani Mukerji received her first National Film Award as Best Actress for her powerful portrayal in Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway, a performance that resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike.

Veteran actor Vijayaraghavan and Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar were recognised with the Best Supporting Actor award for their remarkable contributions.

The announcement was made at a press briefing by Ashutosh Gowariker, Chairperson of the Feature Film Jury, along with P. Sheshadri, Chairperson of the Non-Feature Film Jury, and Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan MN, Joint Secretary (Films). Mattu J. P. Singh, Director General of PIB, was also present.