The Malayalam film “Aattam” has won the Best Film award at the 70th National Awards. Directed by Anand Ekarshi, the film centers around a female member of a theater troupe who is sexually assaulted by the male ‘hero’ during a farmhouse retreat. The official description of the film reads, “A crime unfolds, a fate is at stake. The drama extends beyond the stage.”
Starring Sudheer Babu, Zarin Shihab, and Vinay Forrt, “Aattam” marks Anand’s directorial debut. The film is currently streaming on Prime Video.
The award for Best Hindi Film was given to Disney+ Hotstar’s “Gulmohar,” featuring Manoj Bajpayee, Sharmila Tagore, Amol Palekar, Suraj Sharma, and Simran in lead roles. This family drama was directed by Rahul Chittella and written by Rahul Chittella and Arpita Mukherjee.
In a phone conversation, Tagore shared her excitement, saying, “I just received the news and reflected on the remarkable journey this film has had, from the first award to now. It’s been two years, and it continues to be recognized. This journey began during COVID, and the film has come a long way. I was about to have lunch, and now I am overjoyed. I am happy for Rahul [Rahul V. Chittella, director] because he made a wonderful film. We all have been recognized and appreciated for this film.”
The 79-year-old actress also congratulated her “Gulmohar” co-star Manoj Bajpayee, who received a special mention for his performance at the National Awards.