Director Sudipto Sen ‘Had A Beautiful Feeling’ After Winning National Award For The Kerala Story

The prestigious 71st National Film Awards ceremony took place in New Delhi on Tuesday, September 23, where filmmaker Sudipto Sen was honoured with the National Award for Best Director for his controversial yet commercially successful film, The Kerala Story (2023). The award was personally presented by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, making the moment even more memorable for the director.

Released in 2023, The Kerala Story generated widespread debate across the country. The movie deals with the controversial love jihad theory and focuses on the alleged radicalisation of Hindu women by extremist groups. While it became a huge box office success and later performed strongly on OTT platforms, the film was also sharply criticised by many for what

they described as factual inaccuracies and a politically motivated narrative. Despite the divided opinions, the film’s recognition at the National Awards has once again placed it in the spotlight.

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Sudipto Sen Calls His National Award Moment “Surreal”

As per The Hindustan Times, Sudipto Sen reflected on the honour and described receiving the award as nothing short of magical. “It was quite unexpected when I learnt of the award the first time. I thought others, particularly the actors, would get an award. Instead, my cinematographer and I got it. I am still overwhelmed. Success is one thing and getting recognition with the country’s highest award is another,” he said.

The film also won the National Award for Best Cinematography, which was received by cinematographer Prasantanu Mohapatra. Together, Sen and Mohapatra’s wins were celebrated as a huge achievement for the film’s creative team.

Receiving the Award from the President: A Special Feeling

For Sudipto Sen, the significance of receiving the honour from the President of India added an emotional layer to the achievement. Sharing his feelings, he said, “In the film industry, the National award is something which we work for years. To receive it from her was a beautiful feeling.”

The recognition, he explained, was not just about his career but about the years of work, struggle and perseverance that filmmakers invest into their art.

Box Office Success Was the “First Award” for the Director

While the National Award is regarded as the pinnacle of recognition in Indian cinema, Sudipto Sen shared that for him, the true validation came much earlier—when audiences embraced his film in theatres. “When my film did so well at the box office and then OTT, that was a huge award. For a filmmaker, nothing can be bigger than the audience’s acceptance. That is number one and I got that award already; I am content. The country recognising your service with a National Award is a double whammy,” he quipped.

His statement reflects his belief that while awards are prestigious, the greatest success for any filmmaker lies in winning the love of audiences.

Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji and Vikrant Massey Shine at National Awards

The ceremony also witnessed major wins for Bollywood’s leading stars. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan received the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in Jawan, marking the first National Award of his career spanning over 30 years. He shared the honour with Vikrant Massey, who was recognised for his remarkable performance in 12th Fail.

Acclaimed actress Rani Mukerji won the National Award for Best Actress for her moving portrayal in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. Both Shah Rukh and Rani received their awards from President Droupadi Murmu, making the event a memorable one for the industry and fans alike.