The winners of the 71st National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Centre in New Delhi on Friday, honouring films released between January 1 and December 31, 2023, as certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).Tollywood is celebrating a proud moment, having clinched seven prestigious awards, reaffirming that Telugu cinema continues to impress both critically and commercially.“I’m very happy that Balagam won the Best Lyricist award. A National Award is always rare and special. The soul-stirring song ‘Ooru Palleturu’ truly deserved it,” said acclaimed producer Dil Raju, who backed the emotionally resonant rural drama. “Lyricist Kasarla Shyam touched the hearts of villagers, and now his words have reached Delhi too.”Recalling the team’s grassroots-level promotional efforts, Dil Raju added, “We even organized free screenings to ensure the film connected with audiences across Telangana. It first resonated in villages—and now with the national jury. That’s a huge leap.”He further said, “Honestly, I never expect awards—they should come naturally. But this time, I’m truly elated. Balagam was a small film with a big heart.” Dil Raju has previously won National Awards for socially themed films like Maharshi and Sathamanam Bhavati.Tollywood’s Big Wins at the 71st National Awards: Best Telugu Feature Film – Bhagavanth Kesari (Starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, produced by Sahu Garapati) Best Action Direction – Hanu-Man (Directed by Prashanth Varma) Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) – Hanu-Man Best Lyricist – Kasarla Shyam for ‘Ooru Palleturu’ (Balagam) Best Screenplay – Sai Rajesh for Baby (shared with Tamil film Parking) Best Male Playback Singer – PVNS Rohit for ‘Premisthunna’ (Baby) Best Child Artist – Sukriti Veni Bandreddi for Gandhi Thatha Chetu Noted producer and former national jury member Raj Kandukuri praised the diversity among the winners: “What’s unique this time is that all the award-winning films—Bhagavanth Kesari, Hanu-Man, Balagam, and Baby—belong to entirely different genres. There was no overlap in storytelling or treatment.” He added, “Commercially successful films rarely win National Awards. This year, Telugu cinema pulled off a rare double: critical acclaim and box office success. It’s a proud moment. Telugu cinema is back in the national spotlight and is finally receiving the respect it deserves.” Reflecting on last year’s milestone, Kandukuri recalled, “When Allu Arjun won Best Actor for Pushpa, it ended a six-decade-long drought for Telugu heroes at the National Awards. That was historic. Pushpa broke barriers globally and was a game-changer in many ways.”
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