Awards

Assam Govt Names Usha Mangeshkar First Recipient of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award…

Awards, Latest News, Music | October 26, 2026

The Assam government has announced that legendary playback singer Usha Mangeshkar will be honored with the first Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced this on Friday, stating that Usha Mangeshkar will be presented with the award on November 29th at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi during the centenary celebrations of renowned Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will personally hand over the national award to the 90-year-old legendary singer. Usha Mangeshkar is the younger sister of the Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar. This highest honor will include a cash prize of ₹10 lakh, an Angavastram, and a citation, recognizing her contributions to Indian music. This special event is a key part of the closing ceremony of the year-long 100th birth anniversary celebrations of legendary musician Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. Whose music, poetry, and compositions transcended linguistic and regional boundaries. As per the decision of the Assam Cabinet, this award will be given once every three years to honour personalities who have made outstanding contributions at the national and international level in the field of art, music, and cinema. Usha Mangeshkar (younger sister of the late Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle) had a deep professional and artistic association with Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. She has lent her voice to many timeless songs in Assamese cinema and music under Bhupen Hazarika’s direction, which is why she has been selected for this historic first award.

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India’s Oscar Entry ‘Gondhal’ to Get Special Screenings Across 6 Cities…

Awards, Bollywood, Entertainment, Marathi Cinema | October 4, 2026

India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, Marathi psychological thriller ‘Gondhal’, is set to connect with audiences through special preview screenings across six Indian cities. Directed and written by Santosh Davakhar, the film will be screened in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru from October 9, ahead of its wider theatrical release. The special screenings will initially be held in Marathi and Hindi. Mumbai and Pune will host the first screenings on October 9, with four theatres in each city, followed by screenings in the other four cities. The makers have said that the film will later be released worldwide in 6 languages — Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. However, the date for the wider release has not yet been announced. Set against the backdrop of the traditional Gondhal ritual of rural Maharashtra, the film blends cultural elements with psychological drama. The story revolves around Suman, a newly married woman who uses her lover Sarjerao’s obsession with the ritual, turning a sacred tradition into a dangerous and intense game. The film features actors including Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam and Yogesh Sohoni. Speaking about the special screenings, director Santosh Davakhar said they are an opportunity to bring the film back to audiences who value the theatrical experience. He also highlighted the importance of experiencing the film’s atmosphere, sound and visual world on the big screen. The film’s selection as India’s official Oscar entry has now given ‘Gondhal’ a wider platform, with its makers preparing to take the Marathi story and Maharashtra’s cultural setting to audiences across India and overseas.

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72nd National Film Awards – ‘Article 370’ Wins Best Feature Film…

Awards, Bollywood, Entertainment, South Cinema | September 23, 2026

The 72nd National Film Awards were held on September 22nd in Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat. ‘Article 370’ was awarded the Best Feature Film award at the ceremony. Yami Gautam was also honored with the National Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for ‘Article 370’. The film is directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale. This is his first feature film as a director, for which he also received critical acclaim in the Best Debut Director category. The film was released in theaters on February 23, 2024. Following its theatrical success, it was released on Netflix on April 19, 2024. Several actors in the film play roles inspired by real-life political and administrative figures. In the film, Yami Gautam plays the lead role of NIA intelligence agent Zooni Haksar. Priyamani plays Rajeshwari Swaminathan, Joint Secretary of the PMO. Arun Govil plays the role of the Prime Minister of India (inspired by Narendra Modi). Kiran Karmakar plays the powerful role of the country’s Home Minister (inspired by Amit Shah). Regarding the film’s budget, it was made on a limited budget of approximately ₹20 crore. Subsequently, it achieved a significant box office success, grossing over ₹110.57 crore worldwide. The story of Article 370 is based on the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. The story begins in 2016, with Yami playing the role of Zooni Haksar, a fearless IB officer. The film depicts the historical and intelligence events leading up to the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian government in August 2019. The film’s story revolves around two strong female characters working on the country’s most significant mission. The film strikes a perfect balance between ground-level intelligence operations and the high-level politics unfolding in the corridors of Delhi. While Rajeshwari navigates legal nuances and constitutional avenues in Delhi, Juni thwarts the plots of terrorists, corrupt local politicians, and the Pakistani Intelligence Agency (ISI) on the ground in Kashmir.

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72nd National Film Awards: Historic Ceremony at Statue of Unity…

Awards, Bollywood, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, South Cinema | September 22, 2026

The 72nd National Film Awards are being held today, September 22, 2026. This grand ceremony is being held in front of the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, in Kevadia, Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. As every year, many films and artists are being honored. This year’s event is a historic and special one in the history of Indian cinema. This is the first time in the awards’ 72-year history that the ceremony is being held outside the national capital, New Delhi. The government is now planning to hold it in different parts of the country. Honorable President Draupadi Murmu will present the National Awards to all the winners at the ceremony. Several dignitaries, including Union Ministers and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, will also be present. This year, films of the year 2024 are being honored, with films like Chandu Champion (Kartik Aryan – Best Actor), Amaran (Rajkumar Periyasamy – Best Director), Article 370, Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD receiving major awards in various categories. For his incomparable contribution to Indian cinema, veteran actor Anant Nag will be honored with the country’s most prestigious ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Award’.

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Marathi Thriller ‘Gondhal’ Named India’s Official Entry for Oscars 2027…

Awards, Bollywood, Entertainment | September 19, 2026

There’s great news for Indian cinema. The Film Federation of India (FFI) has declared director Santosh Davkhar’s Marathi thriller “Gondhaal” as India’s official entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the 99th Academy Awards (Oscars 2027). The announcement was made by the selection committee, headed by Jury Chairman P. Seshadri, for the 99th Academy Awards ceremony, which will be held on March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Set in rural Maharashtra, this thriller is based on the rich folk traditions of rural Maharashtra and the “Gondhaal ritual” (traditional dance-worship). The film revolves around a newlywed woman named Suman, who is unhappy in her marriage. The main character, Suman, is trapped in an oppressive marriage. The story takes a new turn when she, along with her lover, plots a murder and escapes. It is a cultural thriller about faith, deception, and destiny. The film is written and directed by Santosh Davkhar. Actress Ishita Deshmukh plays the lead role, alongside Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohni, and Nishad Bhoyar. The film’s background score and music were composed by renowned composer Ilaiyaraaja. Director Santosh Davkhar received the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 for this film. “Gondhaal” is the fourth Marathi film to be nominated for an Oscar. Previously, three Marathi films have represented India at the Oscars: Shwaas (2005), Harishchandrachi Factory (2009), and Court (2015).

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Uttarakhand Film Awards 2024 & 2025: First-Ever State Honours for Local Films, Languages & Talent; Entries Open Till Oct 16

Awards, CM Dhami, Hillywood, Uttarakhand | September 18, 2026

As part of a major initiative by the Uttarakhand Film Development Council (UFDC), the official “Uttarakhand Film Awards 2024 and 2025” will be held in Uttarakhand for the first time. The primary objective of this state-level award is to provide a major national platform and recognition to Uttarakhand’s local films, languages (such as Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Jaunsari), local artists, and technical talent. Films produced or filmed in Uttarakhand in 2024 and 2025, as well as films produced in Uttarakhand’s regional dialects, Hindi, and other Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, will be honored. Outstanding artists, technicians, and other creative individuals associated with the film industry will also be honored. Digital entries and online applications for the “Uttarakhand Film Awards 2024 and 2025” film awards began on September 15th, with the deadline being October 16th, 2026. Eligible films and artists can apply by visiting the official website of the Uttarakhand Film Development Council, ufdc.uk.gov.in. According to data released by the Uttarakhand Film Development Council, more than 1,440 film shooting/NOC-related activities have been registered in the state from 2019-20 to 2025-26. This has increased employment and self-employment opportunities in the state, not only in film production but also in hotels, transportation, catering, local services, and other sectors. Banshidhar Tiwari, Chief Executive Officer of the Uttarakhand Film Development Council, stated that the inaugural Uttarakhand Film Awards 2024 and 2025 are an important initiative to honor and recognize local films, languages, artists, and technical talent.

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