72nd National Film Awards: Was it about box office or craft?
Every National Film Awards ceremony celebrates excellence, but it also leaves behind a list of films and performances that many believe deserved more. The 72nd National Film Awards were no different. While the winners list honoured several achievements, a few notable omissions have already brought debate among cinephiles and critics.
From Sai Pallavi's emotionally charged performance in ‘Amaran’ to the global success of ‘All We Imagine As Light’, here are the biggest snubs and surprise winners from this year's National Film Awards.
Sai Pallavi misses best actress despite acclaimed performance in ‘Amaran’
One of the biggest surprises of the evening was Sai Pallavi missing out on the Best Actress award, which went to Yami Gautam for ‘Article 370’.
As Indhu Rebecca Varghese in ‘Amaran’, Sai Pallavi delivered one of the year's most restrained and emotionally affecting performances. She conveyed grief and love through subtle expressions. Her performance became one of the film's emotional anchors and earned widespread praise from audiences and critics alike.
Many expected her nuanced portrayal to translate into National Award recognition, making her omission one of the night's biggest talking points.
‘Manjummel Boys’ misses best malayalam film
After becoming one of Malayalam cinema's biggest success stories, ‘Manjummel Boys’ entered the awards season with high expectations. Inspired by a true story, the survival drama was praised for its tense storytelling and technical brilliance.
The film's recreation of the Guna Caves sequence kept audiences on edge, while its message of friendship and resilience stood across languages. It also swept the Kerala State Film Awards, further strengthening expectations of a National Award win.
‘All We Imagine As Light’ misses major honours
Few Indian films enjoyed the international acclaim that ‘All We Imagine As Light’ received. Director Payal Kapadia's gentle, meditative drama won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and was widely hailed as one of the finest Indian films of the year.
The film's intimate portrayal of loneliness, friendship and life in Mumbai moved audiences around the world. Its absence from the major winners list has already become a point of discussion among film lovers.
‘Laapataa Ladies’ fails to convert buzz into big wins
Aamir Khan-backed ‘Laapataa Ladies’ was another film widely tipped to feature prominently during the awards. Directed by Kiran Rao, the comedy-drama won hearts with its humour, social commentary and characters.
The film's commentary on identity, patriarchy and women's agency made it one of the most talked-about Hindi films of 2024.
Surprise winners that stood out
Alongside the snubs, several winners also caught audiences by surprise.
‘Feminichi Fathima’ beating ‘Manjummel Boys’ for Best Malayalam Film was among the biggest talking points, while ‘Srikanth’ winning Best Hindi Film over several heavily discussed contenders also raised eyebrows. The National Film Awards once again proved that, the jury often favours storytelling, craft and originality over box office success or awards-season predictions.
Awards season ends, debate begins
The National Film Awards have always left conversations long after the winners are announced, and this year is no exception. While the jury's choices celebrate a diverse range of films and performances, the omissions of Sai Pallavi, Manjummel Boys, All We Imagine As Light and Laapataa Ladies have left many wondering whether some of the year's most celebrated works deserved greater recognition.
As reactions continue to pour in, one thing is clear: Sometimes, the biggest stories from an awards ceremony are not just about who won, but also about who didn't.