The 71st National Film Awards celebrated the rich and diverse talent of South Indian cinema, with several films and artists receiving top honours across various categories. From Telugu to Malayalam, Tamil to Kannada, regional cinema made its mark at the national stage once again.
Key Wins for South Indian Cinema:
Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari – Starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, this action-packed drama was recognized for its storytelling and cultural impact.
#71stNationalFilmAwards
— McD (@PantMania) August 1, 2025
Best Telugu Film – #BhagavanthKesari #JaiBalayya pic.twitter.com/Z0ul4fgNzG
Best Tamil Film: Parking – A gripping tale of urban conflict, the film won not only Best Tamil Film but also Best Supporting Actor for MS Bhaskar and Best Screenplay for Ramkumar Balakrishnan.
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— TeluguOne (@Theteluguone) August 1, 2025
Best Tamil Film – #Parking #NationalAward2023 #NationalAward pic.twitter.com/RpnMqgJBIn
Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku – This emotional family drama earned Urvashi the Best Supporting Actress award for her powerful performance.
Best Kannada Film: Kandeelu – Honoured as the best in its language, reflecting regional stories with emotional depth.
Acting & Technical Excellence:
Best Supporting Actor:
Vijayaraghavan for Pookkalam (Malayalam)
MS Bhaskar for Parking (Tamil)
Best Child Artist: Sukriti Veni Bandreddi, daughter of director Sukumar, for Gandhi Tatha Chettu
Best Male Playback Singer: PVNS Rohit for Baby Premisthunna (Telugu)
Best Lyrics: Kasarla Shyam for Balagam (Telugu)
Best Music Direction: GV Prakash Kumar for Vaathi (Tamil)
Best Screenplay:
Baby (Telugu) – Sai Rajesh Neelam
Parking (Tamil) – Ramkumar Balakrishnan
Best Editing: Midhun Murali for Pookkalam (Malayalam)
Best Production Design: Mohandas (Malayalam), a segment from the film 2018
Best Stunt Choreography: Nandu & Prithvi for HanuMan
Best AVGC (Animation, VFX, Gaming & Comics): HanuMan
Original Screenplay Awards for Parking and Baby
The Best Original Screenplay awards went to:
Ramkumar Balakrishnan for Parking (Tamil)
Sai Rajesh Neelam for Baby (Telugu)
Both films stood out for their fresh narratives and emotionally charged storytelling, earning critical acclaim in their respective languages.
Technical Excellence Recognised
Best Editing: Pookaalam (Malayalam) – Edited by Midhun Murali, the film’s crisp pacing and smooth transitions played a key role in enhancing the narrative’s emotional depth.
Best Lyrics: Kasarla Shyam won for his lyrical work in the Telugu film Balagam, a song celebrated for its cultural resonance and poetic beauty.
