Daijiworld Media Network - Ekta Nagar
Ekta Nagar (Gujarat), Sep 22: Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 by President Droupadi Murmu at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony here on Tuesday.
Honouring Nag for his contribution to Indian cinema spanning more than five decades, Murmu said his acting represented a synthesis of the finest elements of theatre and cinema.
“I am very pleased to honour Anant Nag with the highest recognition in Indian cinema,” the President said, recalling that she had also conferred the Padma Bhushan on the actor last year.
Murmu said serious students of cinema regarded Nag’s acting as “natural, restrained and authentic” and noted that his contribution had made him an example for future generations of artists.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 16, recognised Nag’s “outstanding and invaluable contribution” to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
Recalling his early association with theatre, Murmu said Nag joined the company of prominent theatre personalities at a young age.
“In his first play, he portrayed Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and in his second play, he played Gautam Buddha,” she said.
Nag began his film career in the early 1970s and went on to establish a prominent presence in Kannada cinema, besides working in Hindi and other South Indian-language films.
The 78-year-old actor has appeared in more than 300 films during a career that has also included substantial work in theatre and television.
Born in Mumbai on September 4, 1948, Nag has family roots in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district. His artistic journey began in theatre, where he drew inspiration from English plays and directors such as Satyadev Dubey, Girish Karnad and Amol Palekar.
He made his film debut in 1973 with a Kannada movie.
Known for his naturalistic acting and portrayal of the ordinary man, Nag carved out a distinct place in Indian cinema at a time when action- and dance-oriented narratives were prominent.
His versatility earned him the tag of an ‘evergreen hero’. He has received several honours, including five Filmfare Awards, five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards and the Karnataka State Lifetime Achievement Award.
With the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Nag becomes only the second Kannada actor after Dr Rajkumar to receive both the Padma Bhushan and the country’s highest cinema honour.
The National Film Awards ceremony was held outside New Delhi for the first time, with Ekta Nagar chosen as the venue. The event was organised near the Statue of Unity, with the President linking the location to the themes of India’s cultural and national unity.
Murmu also highlighted the collective effort involved in filmmaking and asked award winners to convey her appreciation to all members of their respective teams.
“Many people contribute to the making of a film,” she said, urging the winners to ensure that her appreciation reached everyone involved in their productions.
The President said films made in different Indian languages and regions reflected the country’s diversity, including the dreams, traditions, struggles and aspirations of its people.
Nag’s award was among the key honours presented at the ceremony, where Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan jointly received the Best Actor award, Yami Gautam was named Best Actress and Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Film of a Director award.
The 72nd National Film Awards recognise films certified during 2024 and honour achievements across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema. The awards were instituted in 1954.