Guwahati, Aug 2: Four films from the Northeast got awards at the 71st National Film Awards for the year 2023, which were announced on August 1.

The best debut film of a director went to Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw (Mizo). The film was directed by Shilpika Bordoloi. It got a Swarn Kamal with Rs 3 lakh in cash. The film is on the forgotten memory of the story of the mother who dies at childbirth. The film shows a re-imagined dance of the mother spirit with the bamboo dance performed as a way to pacify the soul of the mother who dies in childbirth. Bamboo is part of the geo-political history of Mizoram and the many other states in the north-east of India.

In Assamese, Rongatapu 1982, produced by BRC Cine Production and directed by Adityam Saikia. The film has earned widespread critical acclaim, praised especially for its evocative portrayal of rural Assam in the 1980s, highlighting strengths in cinematography and sound design. It got Rajat Kamal award with Rs 2 lakh in cash.

In Garo, the award went to Rimgodittanga (Rapture), directed by Dominic Megam Sangma and produced by Anna Films. Rapture, presented in the Garo language, weaves a compelling narrative around a 10-year-old boy grappling with night blindness. In his world, every night becomes a haunting ordeal as the village succumbs to the fear of child-kidnappers. It delves into the deep cultural and spiritual realms of the Garo community. The film has already become a huge success on the film festival circuit and has won nummerous awards. It got Rajat Kamal award with Rs 2 lakh in cash.

Congratulations to Dominic Megam Sangma on winning Best Feature Film in Garo for “Rimdogittanga (Rapture)” at the 71st National Film Awards!

Dominic has consistently captivated us with his powerful storytelling, rooted deeply in the richness of our tribal heritage and way of… pic.twitter.com/kqx7yWeaN8

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) August 1, 2025

Pai Tang Best( Step of Hope) was the best Tai Phake Film. The film is directed by Prabal Khaund and produced by Naba Kumar Bhuyan. It got Rajat Kamal award with Rs 2 lakh in cash.

The award for the best film critic went to Utpal Datta in Assamese. He got a Swarn Kamal with Rs 3 lakh in cash.

This year, the awards saw 332 entries in the feature film category, 115 in non-feature films, 27 books, and 16 critics’ submissions.

12th Fail has been honoured with the Best Feature Film award at the 71st National Film Awards.

Flowering Man won the Best Non-Feature Film award, while God Vulture and Human was recognised as the Best Documentary. Both films earned their first National Film Award.

Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) have been awarded the Best Actor award. This is the first National Film Award of Sharukh Khan in his career.

Rani Mukerji was honoured with the Best Actress award for her powerful performance in Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway. This is also her first-ever National Film Award.

Veteran actor Vijayaraghavan and Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar were awarded Best Supporting Actor.

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

Also Read: Generate your resources, curb unnecessary spending, Tynsong tells district councils

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