Honouring the best of 2020’s cinematic excellence, the 68th National Film Awards were announced on Friday in the Capital. The report related to the awards was submitted to the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Anurag Thakur, and 10 jury members, headed by filmmaker Vipul Shah, took the final call.

Ajay Devgn and Suriya shared the Best Actor award. Devgn won it for the period drama Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior and Suriya for Soorarai Pottru. His co-star in the movie, Aparna Balamurali, won the Best Actress award.

Devgn on receiving his third National Award said, “I’m elated to win the Best Actor Award along with Suriya. I thank everyone, most of all my creative team, the audience and my fans. I also express my gratitude to my parents and the Almighty for their blessings.”

Soorarai Pottru won the Best Feature Film, while Tanhaji... was declared the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Nachiket Barve and Mahesh Sherla won the Best Costume Designer award for the same movie.

Child actor Varun Buddhadev got a special jury mention for the Sanjay Dutt and Rajiv Kapoor-starrer Toolsidas Junior, which also won the Best Feature Film, Hindi. It was also Kapoor’s last film before he died in Feb 2021.

Lyricist Manoj Muntashir won the National Award for Best Lyrics for Saina. Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj bagged the award for Best Music Direction (non-feature films section) for 1232 Kms: Marenge Toh Wahin Jaakar. HTC

Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for I&B, told ANI, “I want to congratulate all the jury members and all those people whose work was reviewed and would like to congratulate the recipients. A word of appreciation for everyone who has done an outstanding job.”

Best Feature Film: Soorarai Pottru; Tamil

Best Actress: Aparna Balamurali (Soorarai Pottru)

Best Actor: Suriya (Soorarai Pottru) & Ajay Devgn (Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior; Hindi)

Best Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir (Saina; Hindi)

Best Costume Designer: Nachiket Barve & Mahesh Sherla (Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior)

Best Music Direction in Non-Feature Films: Vishal Bhardwaj (1232 Kms: Marenge Toh Wahin Jaakar; Hindi)