On the 20th of February, Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2024 felicitated the most brilliant contributions to cinema with a grand ceremony at Taj Lands End in Mumbai. Like every year, India’s most prestigious award ceremony brought the heat with scintillating music and dance performances, outstanding red-carpet looks and above all an appreciation of the great talent and enormous effort put in year after year by the Film and Television industry.

At the ceremony, Moushumi Chatterjee was felicitated for her Outstanding Contribution in the Film Industry. As a seasoned stalwart of the Hindi and Bengali industry, the actress has had a stellar career with films that need no introduction. After debuting in Balika Badhu in 1967, Chatterjee went on to star in phenomenal productions such as Parineeta, Anuraag, Benaam, and Humshakal, to name a few. At DPIFF 2024, Moushumi Chatterjee was saluted for her brilliant and eclectic contribution to cinema.

K.J. Yesudas is one of the most respected figures in the Indian music industry. He is known for his expertise in classical as well as devotional music. Moreover, the playback singer has also lent his resonating voice to film songs. He is undoubtedly a cultural icon and one of the most eminent figures in Indian music. At DPIFF 2024, Yesudas was felicitated for his Outstanding Contribution in the Music Industry.

The 2023 blockbuster action thriller Jawan was not only a box office hit but was also beloved by fans and critics alike. In the film, Shah Rukh Khan’s double role and power-packed performance meet Atlee’s cinematic brilliance to create a superbly entertaining masterpiece. Jawan handles the topic of women’s empowerment with a refreshing, revolutionary angle. Jawan won the Best Film award at DPIFF 2024.

The much-coveted Best Actor award went to Shah Rukh Khan for his outstanding performance in the blockbuster film Jawan. The superstar compellingly played the role of a Special Ops commando as well as his jailer son, peppering the cinematic social commentary with his quintessential charisma and screen presence. Undoubtedly one of the most talented male leads in Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan’s gravitas alone makes him the perfect choice for Best Actor, 2024.

The Best Actress award went to the evergreen Rani Mukerji for her outstanding performance in the drama film Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. The film is one of the latest feathers in her cap. Her marvelous performance as the titular lead left movie-goers awestruck at the magnitude of her talent. She took on the assertive role with graceful ease and moved audiences with her performance as a mother willing to go to any lengths for her children. 

The highly acclaimed Best Director title has been awarded to Sandeep Reddy Vanga for his film Animal. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, TriptiiDimri, and Shakti Kapoor, the film broke several box office records both domestically and internationally. A film about sacrifice, revenge, and father-son relationships, Animal revolves explores the nexus of power, trauma, and identity.

Cinematographer Gnana Shekar V.S. bagged the title of Best Cinematographer at DPIFF 2024, for the movie IB71. The cinematography of the spy thriller IB71 has been lauded by critics for its creativity, evocation of action, and dynamism. It is a brilliantly shot film, and the credit lies with none other than Gnana Shekar V.S. For the brilliance of his cinematic mind and vision with regard to IB71, Gnana Shekar V.S. was awarded the title of Best Cinematographer at DPIFF 2024.

Varun Jain and Sachin Jigar jointly bagged the Best Playback Singer - Male title for the song Tere Vaaste from the movie Zara Hatke Zara Bachke starring Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan. The song from the aforementioned film is in the voices of Varun Jain and Sachin Jigar, whose melodious crooning has together won the hearts of millions. The mellifluous song has racked up quite a fanbase of its own.

Shilpa Rao bagged the Best Playback Singer - Female title for the song Besharam Rang from the movie Pathaan. She has consistently lent her voice to some of the best songs to come from Bollywood over the past few years, including Khuda Jaanefrom Bachna Ae Haseeno, Yaariyan from Cocktail, and Le ChalMujhe from NH10, and Chaleya from Jawan. 

12th Fail won the coveted accolade of Critics Best Film. The Vikrant Massey starrer has left critics reeling with its cinematic impact and social commentary. Directed by none other than Vidhu Vinod Chopra and based on a book by Anurag Pathak, the film tells the story of Manoj Kumar Sharma - a man who overcomes extreme poverty to become an IPS officer. The direction and the performances delivered by the actors have all been duly praised. The brilliance of the filmmaking driven by the plot and complemented by outstanding cinematography makes 12th Fail a must-watch, and the Critics Best Film title at DPIFF 2024 is an added feather to its cap.

The much-coveted Critics Best Actor award went to Vicky Kaushal for his outstanding performance in Meghna Gulzar’s Sam Bahadur. The film is a biographical war drama that follows the trajectory of real-life hero, field marshal Sam Manekshaw. Sam Bahadur was undoubtedly a commercial success, and has also been applauded by critics for its depiction of bravery and sacrifice. It is a cinematic wonder and as always, Vicky Kaushal stands out with his natural charm and talent. For this film, he was awarded the title of Critics Best Actor at DPIFF 2024.

The Critics Best Actress award went to Kareena Kapoor Khan for her brilliant performance in Netflix’s Jaane Jaan. Sujoy Ghosh’s film engages masterfully with crime, drama, and mystery, with Kareena Kapoor Khan’s character standing out as an icon in her own right. The actress is wonderfully self-possessed in her role and has been felicitated by DPIFF 2024 for Jaane Jaan.

Renowned director Atlee bagged the coveted Critics Best Director award for the film Jawan. In the film, Shah Rukh Khan’s double role and power-packed performance meet Atlee’s cinematic brilliance to create a superbly entertaining masterpiece. Jawan handles the topic of women’s empowerment with a refreshing, revolutionary angle.

At the ceremony, the Most Promising Actor award went to Vikrant Massey for his outstanding performance in 12th Fail. The film has left critics reeling with its cinematic impact and social commentary. Directed by none other than Vidhu Vinod Chopra and based on a book by Anurag Pathak, the film tells the story of Manoj Kumar Sharma - a man who overcomes extreme poverty to become an IPS officer. The direction and the performances delivered by the actors have all been duly praised - but it must be said that Vikrant Massey has won the hearts of all through his portrayal of Manoj Kumar Sharma. 

The Most Promising Actress went to Adah Sharma for The Kerala Story. The actress portrayed her character with nuanced depth and soulfulness, giving a compelling performance that resonated with many. She tackled a traumatic narrative with ease and grace, and was therefore undoubtedly the best choice for Most Promising Actress. 

At the ceremony, the Most Versatile Actress award went to Nayanthara for her magnificent contributions to Indian cinema. The actress is a cinema icon known for tackling every role with sheer skill and talent. With each new production, the audience gets to see another side of Nayanthara’s repertoire. For her marvelous versatility, she was felicitated at DPIFF 2024.

The Best Actor in a Supporting Role award went to Anil Kapoor for his outstanding performance in Animal. The Ranbir Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna starrer is a film about sacrifice, revenge, and father-son relationships. Seasoned and celebrated actor Anil Kapoor perfectly played the role of the father with heartfelt depth and nuance. For this performance, he has bagged the title of Best Actor in a Supporting Role at DPIFF 2024.

Bobby Deol bagged the title of Best Actor in a Negative Role for his performance in Animal. Deol has added an action-packed drama to his ever-glittering repertoire. Also starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna, the film tackles machismo and violence in a way that Indian cinema has never done before. Bobby Deol’s character is wonderfully memorable, and is sure to go down in cinematic history as one of his most iconic performances.

Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2024 was the glorious culmination of creative endeavours with Cinematic Evolution as the theme. With musical performances by JavedAli, Sukhwinder, and Nikhita Gandhi, the evening celebrated the grand history and legacy of entertainment in India. The most brilliant minds of the industry and their projects over the past year were felicitated on a grand scale. It was a glamorous red-carpet ceremony as all of Bollywood stepped out to grace the prestigious ceremony. Seasoned actors Jaaved Jaffrey and Aparshakti Khurana were the charming hosts of the evening who left the audience spellbound with their natural wit and humour. 

Over the years, DPIFF has evolved into the country's most prestigious award ceremony. DPIFF's mission is to cultivate and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness. The vision behind the ceremony, as always, is to preserve and uphold the cinematic vision of the Father of Indian Cinema – Dadasaheb Phalke Ji.