Overall there was a sense of satisfaction and appreciation for the fair, balanced, and impartial verdicts-decision taken by the National Awards Jury headed by Chairperson Ketan Mehta, Feature Films Jury Vasanth S Sai Non-Feature films Jury Yatindra Mishra in the presence of Neerja Sekhar Additional Secretary I & B Ministry. Both Kriti Sanon ( MIMI) and Alia Bhatt( Gangubai K) equally deserved the Best Actress Award, So both shared the Best Actress Award
After Kriti Sanon was named Best Actress for her role in the movie Mimi, she shared with the news media “I thank God and my fans for everything. My prayers have been answered. I have a diary in which I write about my life, my dreams, and my goals. After working in 'Mimi', I had penned down in my diary that I would win the National Award for my performance in this film and I won it. I hope this win inspires boys and girls who watch thousands of dreams and want to make them come true."
Similarly, actress Alia Bhatt was super-delighted and said “It’s a very big moment and I am very grateful’. Star-husband Ranbir Kapoor was proudly holding up his cell phone and video-filming Alia getting the Award from The President. Both her mother Soni Razdan-Bhatt and her mother-in-law Neetu Kapoor were delighted to see her star daughter and bahurani Alia winning the National Award.
History of National Award The National Film Awards first began in the year 1954 in the name of "State Awards." Every year, the best movies irrespective of the regional languages were nominated and awarded. This Central Government started the National Award in 1967, handing it away to deserving talented actors and technicians working in cinema-movies. Actress Nargis was awarded the Best Actress award for the first time for Raat Aur Din and actor Uttam Kumar won Best Actor Award for Antony Firingee and Chiriyakhana.
Selected list of winners at the 69th National Film Awards:
Best Feature Film: Rocketry ( R. Madhavan)
Best Director: Nikhil Mahajan, Godavari
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: RRR
Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration: The Kashmir Files
Best Actor: Allu Arjun, Pushpa
Best Actress: Alia Bhatt, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Kriti Sanon, Mimi
Best Supporting Actor: Pankaj Tripathi, Mimi
Best Supporting Actress: Pallavi Joshi, The Kashmir Files
Best Child Artist: Bhavin Rabari, Chhello Show # Best Screenplay (Adapted): Sanjay Leela Bhansali & Utkarshini Vashishtha, Gangubai Kathiawadi # Best Dialogue Writer: Utkarshini Vashishtha & Prakash Kapadia, Gangubai Kathiawadi # Best Music Director (Songs): Devi Sri Prasad, Pushpa # Best Music Direction (Background Music): MM Keeravaani, RRR # Best Male Playback Singer: Kaala Bhairava, RRR # Best Female Playback Singer: Shreya Ghoshal, Iravin Nizhal # Best Lyrics: Chandrabose, Konda Polam's Dham Dham Dham # Best Hindi Film: Sardar Udham Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director: Meppadiyan, Vishnu Mohan # Best Children's Film: Gandhi and Co # Best Audiography (Location Sound Recordist): Arun Asok & Sonu K P, Chavittu # Best Audiography (Sound Designer): Aneesh Basu, Jhilli # Best Audiography (Re-recordist of the final mixed track): Sinoy Joseph, Sardar Udham # Best Choreography: Prem Rakshith, RRR # Best Cinematography: Avik Mukhopadhayay, Sardar Udham--Best Costume Designer: Veera Kapur--Sardar Udham # Best Special Effects: Srinivas Mohan--RRR # Best Production Design: Dmitrii Malich and Mansi Dhruv Mehta, Sardar Udham # Best Editing: Sanjay Leela Bhansali -Gangubai Kathiawadi # Best Make-up: Preetisheel Singh--, Gangubai Kathiawadi # Best Stunt Choreography: King Soloman, RRR # Special Jury Award: Shershaah, Vishnuvardhan.