The National Film Awards, one of the biggest honours in Indian film industry, have always been a benchmark. The awards were founded in 1954 to celebrate the best achievements made in the Indian film industry in various categories. In the year 2014 the 67 th installment of the awards highlighted some of the most remarkable performances and movies that have created a buzz among the viewers and the critics as well.
Shah Rukh Khan who won the Best Actor with his performance in the film Jawan was one of the most hailed winners. Directed by Atlee, the film had Khan playing a dual role and this made him demonstrate his versatility in a way that was unprecedented. The multifaceted nature of human feelings was represented by him as a father who wanted to solve a justice problem and a rebel who needs to find his identity. The intriguing plot of the movie and raw acting capabilities of the Khan actually rendered Jawan a commercial success and triggered the debate concerning the changing face of stardom in the Indian films. His uncensored, layered performance overwhelmed audiences and was one of the merely few pieces of evidence of his outstanding abilities and gates to his profession.
Together with Khan, Rani Mukerji was also awarded Best Actress based on her subtle performance in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. Her role as a mother fighting to get custody of her children in a foreign country in Mukerji was appreciated because it was moving and it was able to show that she was weak. Mukerji has always given her the best and has performed through the ages to show what an excellent reach she can have and such an award is another feather to her great career. Her trade between a commercially successful and a critically successful actress has made her truly one of the most revered actresses in the business.
The second significant area of the current awards was a music group on the 12th fail whose feature film took the Best Feature Film award. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the director of the film takes us on a sensitively poignant journey of a young man who is grappling with the demands of the education system in India. It struck a chord with viewers and especially with those who have struggled with the pressure to achieve academic or socially defined success. The realistic aspect of the movie in representing the emotional roller coaster that student had to face and the relatable narrative story that inspired made the movie quite special. The fact that it was voted the Best Feature Film points to a much more general trend that has been occurring over the past few years, with the films that center on social problems and include critical coverage of modern lives getting attention.
The 67 th National Film Awards also brought out certain interesting trends in the Indian cinema. It was also evident that there was an emphasis on reading experiences that have both personal problems and societal challenges. Jawan touched on themes of justice and personal sacrifice and 12th Fail was a criticism of the Indian education system and the stress that students were undergoing in its name. In Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, Rani Mukerji played the role that ended up awarding her and still addressed some deep questions of immigration and cultural identity.
These films and performances have had almost universally good reaction. Jawan has stirred the curiosity of how Shah Rukh Khan was so versatile, and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway has raised awareness of such an underutilized topic in India, i.e. the motherhood story across borders, and 12th Fail has not only connected with students but also parents and teachers which is rare and sorely needed in the Indian education system.
To sum up, the National Film Awards of this year was a performance of perfection in terms of different genres and works with films and their characters which show the inner struggle a person faces, as well as the struggle within the society. Having Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, and 12th Fail as the leading protagonists, one is certain that the Indian cinema has been evolving and is providing people with strong narratives that can fully resonate with the audience. These awards not just commemorate the winners they are also an indication of the way the industry allows itself to go beyond the standard in order to create stories with meaning.
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