The winners of the 63rd National Film Awards were announced on 28th March, 2016,
yielding both surprising and not-so-surprising results. Among the not-so-surprising, were nods to critically-acclaimed films such as ‘Masaan’, ‘Margarita With A Straw’, and Malayalam film ‘Pathemari’, but what was truly surprising and nearly surreal, were the amount of winners that belonged to Bollywood. Kangana Ranaut walked away with ‘Best Actress’ for her performance in ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’, Amitabh Bachchan was awarded ‘Best Actor’ for ‘Piku’, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ was named ‘Best Popular Film’, Sanjay Leela Bhansali bagged ‘Best Director’ for ‘Bajirao Mastaani’, and countless other awards in the supporting actor, screenplay, choreography and cinematography categories went to big-ticket Bollywood films.
Here’s the complete list of winners:
- Best Film: Baahubali
- Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Bajirao Mastani)
- Best Actor: Amitabh Bachchan (Piku)
- Best Actress: Kangana Ranaut (Tanu Weds Manu Returns)
- Best Hindi Film: Dum Laga Ke Haisha
- Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film Of A Director: Neeraj Ghaywan (Masaan)
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Bajrangi Bhaijaan
- Best Choreography: Remo D’Souza (Deewani Mastani song in Bajirao Mastani)
- Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration: Nanak Shah Fakir
- Best Malayalam Film: Pathemari
- Best Film on Social Issue: Niranayakam
- Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation: Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal
- Best Children’s Film: Duronto
- Best Tamil Film: Visaaranai
- Best Telugu Film: Kanche
- Best Sanskrit Film: Priyamanasam
- Best Kannada Film: Thithi
- Best Punjabi Film: Chauthi Koot
- Best Konkani Film: Enemy
- Best Assamese Film: Kothanodi
- Best Haryanvi Film: Satrangi
- Best Khasi Film: Onaatah
- Best Manipuri Film: Eibusu Yaohanbiyu
- Best Mizo Film: Kima’s Lode Beyond the Class
- Best Odia Film: Pahada Ra Luha
- Special Mention: Ritika Singh for the film Irudhi Suttru
