72nd National Awards: Sukumar Shines, Pushpa 2 Wins Big for Telugu Cinema
The much-awaited 72nd National Film Awards, recognizing the finest achievements in Indian cinema for films released in 2024, were officially announced, bringing moments of celebration, surprises, and pride across the film industry. Telugu cinema once again made a remarkable impact at the prestigious awards, with several acclaimed films earning recognition in major creative and technical categories.
One of the biggest talking points ahead of the announcement was whether Icon Star Allu Arjun would script history by winning his second National Award for Best Actor for his powerful performance in Pushpa 2: The Rule. Having become the first Telugu actor to win the National Award for Best Actor for Pushpa: The Rise, expectations were sky-high for another historic victory. However, this year, the coveted acting honour went elsewhere, leaving fans disappointed.
Despite missing out on the Best Actor award, Pushpa 2: The Rule continued its winning streak at the National Awards. Acclaimed filmmaker Sukumar received the Best Screenplay (Original) award for his exceptional writing, reaffirming his reputation as one of India’s finest storytellers. The film also earned recognition for its outstanding costume design, further highlighting the meticulous craftsmanship that went into creating the blockbuster.
Telugu Cinema Registers Strong Presence
The Telugu film industry enjoyed another memorable year at the National Awards, with multiple films receiving honours across various categories.
Nag Ashwin’s sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD won the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, celebrating its spectacular blend of mythology, science fiction, visual effects, and mass appeal. The film also secured the Best Production Design award for Nitin Zihani Chaudhary, whose visionary work played a vital role in bringing the futuristic world of Kalki 2898 AD to life.
Committee Kurrollu, one of the year’s most appreciated Telugu dramas, was adjudged Best Telugu Feature Film. The film also won Best Makeup Artist, with P. Ravi Kumar being honoured for his remarkable contribution.
The heartwarming children’s drama 35 Chinna Katha Kaadu added to Telugu cinema’s success by winning Best Children’s Film, while young talent Arundev Pothula was recognised as Best Child Artist for his memorable performance.
Meanwhile, Venky Atluri received the Best Dialogues award for Lucky Baskhar, with his impactful writing earning appreciation from both audiences and critics.
Adding another feather to Pushpa 2‘s cap, Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma won the Best Costume Designer award for their impressive work, which played a key role in defining the film’s distinct visual identity.
Major National Award Winners Across India
Apart from Telugu cinema, several outstanding films from different languages dominated the awards.
Article 370 emerged as the Best Feature Film, while its lead actress Yami Gautam won the Best Actress award for her compelling performance. The film also secured the Best Music Direction award for Sashwath Sachdev.
Director Rajkumar Periasamy was honoured with the Best Director award for the critically acclaimed Amaran, which also earned G.V. Prakash Kumar the award for Best Background Music and R. Kalaivannan for Best Editing.
The Best Actor award was shared by Karthik Aaryan for his inspiring performance in Chandu Champion and Malayalam superstar Mammootty for the critically acclaimed Bramayugam, recognising two vastly different yet equally impactful performances.
Veteran actor Sanjay Mishra won Best Supporting Actor for Bhakshak, while Rupasree (Mithya) and Sanchana Namidas (Maharaja) shared the Best Supporting Actress honour.
Other notable winners included Manas Chaudhary for Best Sound Design (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3), Shehnad for Best Cinematography (Bramayugam), Anl Arasu for Best Stunt Choreography (Maharaja), and Vijay Ganguly for Best Dance Choreography for the chartbuster song “Aaj Ki Raat” from Stree 2.
Telugu Cinema Continues to Raise the Bar
Although Allu Arjun narrowly missed the opportunity to secure a second National Award for Best Actor, the 72nd National Film Awards proved to be another landmark moment for Telugu cinema. With Pushpa 2, Kalki 2898 AD, Committee Kurrollu, 35 Chinna Katha Kaadu, and Lucky Baskhar bringing home prestigious honours, Tollywood once again demonstrated its growing influence on Indian cinema.
The diverse range of awards across screenplay, production design, costumes, dialogues, children’s cinema, and mainstream entertainment reflects the industry’s evolving storytelling standards and technical excellence. As Telugu filmmakers continue to push creative boundaries, the National Awards reaffirm that the industry’s contributions are being celebrated on the country’s biggest cinematic platform.
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