From Ayyappanum Koshiyum to Mandela: Where you can watch the 68th National Film Award-winning titles

The 68th National Film Awards, announced recently, by the Press Information Bureau, had some big winners. From Suriya's Soorarai Pottru, Vasanth Sai's Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum to Yogi Babu's Mandela, several movies won the prestigious honour in various languages. We list them out, in no specific order, so that you binge watch.

Soorarai Pottru on Amazon Prime Video: (Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Feature Film, Best Background Score)

The story revolves around Nedumaaran Rajangam, aka Maara, who sets out to make the common man fly and, in the process, takes on the world's most capital-intensive industry with the help of his family, friends, and sheer willpower. The film was partly inspired by events in the life of Captain GR Gopinath, the founder of Air Deccan. The Hindi remake was announced last year with Akshay Kumar reprising Suriya's role. The remake will be directed by Sudha Kongara, who helmed the original.

Mandela on Netflix: (Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director, Best Dialogue Writer)

The film first aired on television. Though director Madonne Ashwin was initially disappointed that his debut film did not receive a theatrical release, the positive response it has received has more than made up for it. This political satire is set against the backdrop of a small village, following the Panchayat election system. It turns out that a Dalit barber's vote ends up deciding the fate of the poll.

Oh That’s Bhanu on MUBI: (Best Direction)

It is a documentary about the dancer, which was released in 2019 by filmmaker R.V. Ramani. This 112-minute film follows Bhanumathi as she navigates the crevasses of her mind and struggles with memory loss. Her battle is complicated further by her loss of hearing and vision, but all of her worries vanish when she begins to dance. The timeless nature of Bhanumathi Rao's relationship with her art is her greatest legacy. Her spirit lives on in the lives of those she has touched.

Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum on SonyLIV: (Best Tamil Film, Best Supporting Actress)

This Vasanth Sai directorial features Kalieswari Srinivasan, Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli, Parvathy Thiruvothu, and Karunakaran among others, in prominent roles. The film was screened at multiple film festivals. The story delves into the confines of a house as well as the confines of patriarchy, but it is about three women as imagined in the writings of three men.

Ayyappanum Koshiyum on Amazon Prime Video: (Best Female Singer, Best Supporting Actor, Best Action Direction, Best Direction)

Ayyappanum Koshiyum may have its origins in the dialogue-heavy, testosterone-fueled Malayalam superstar films of the early 2000s, but the film's aftertaste is more akin to a study in paranoia. Sachy's uneven yet brilliant film may appear as a rude disruptor to those who see current Malayalam cinema simply as a haven for progressive ideas.

Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo on Netflix: Best Music Direction (Songs)

The film starring Allu Arjun was declared the third highest grosser in Telugu cinema history. The film, which has become Arjun and Trivikram Srinivas' biggest opener, has fetched Rs 280 crore, with the theatrical share reported at Rs 167.80 crore, making it the only straight film in the language to achieve this feat. The family entertainer's box office collection has surpassed films such as Rangasthalam and Khaidi No: 150. The story follows a young man who is raised in a typical middle-class household and discovers that he is the sole heir of a wealthy family.

Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam on SonyLIV: (Best Malayalam Film)

The film's theme applies to any small town in India. It stands out for its subtle humour, stinging one-liners, with the best ones reserved for the women, and realistic, organic narrative. Every character blends into the environment, and the local dialect anchors the film firmly in Kanhangad. Senna Hegde wrote this Malayalam comedy drama.

Avijatrik on Beta Series (Best Bengali Film, Best Cinematography)

The film begins in Apur Sansar, where the trilogy ended in 1959, as a tribute to Satyajit Ray, Ravi Shankar, and Soumitra Chatterjee. Avijatrik is based on the final third of the novel Aparajita by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay. The story follows a father and his son on their journey as the father relives his entire childhood through the eyes of his son.

Vaanku on Zee5: (Special Mention)

The film, written by Unni R (of Leela and Ozhivudivasathe Kali fame), is about Razia, a college student who only wants to recite the azaan once in her life. Can a young girl's voice ever replace the voice of God?

Natyam on Amazon Prime Video: (Best Choreography, Best Make-Up Artist)

A film about classical dance, produced and starring a Kuchipudi dancer, attempts to draw parallels between a contemporary story and a fictional story from pre-independence India. A premise like that is unusual in Telugu cinema today. The story appears straightforward at first. Politics, drama, and conflicting interests emerge gradually.

Colour Photo on Aha: (Best Telugu Film)

Directed by debutant Sandeep Raj and written by Sai Rajesh, this film is about a dark-skinned underdog, made by a group of underdogs, who worked their way into the Telugu film industry after winning over viewers with their short films. It's familiar territory, but the story makes all the difference.

Toolsidas Junior on Netflix: (Best Hindi Film)

Toolsidas Junior, the final film of late actor Rajiv Kapoor, stars Varun Buddhadev and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles. The sports drama, set in Calcutta in 1994, follows the life of a snooker champion, played by Kapoor, who loses his heart after losing a crucial match. His son, played by Buddhadev, takes it upon himself to restore his father's name to the list of winners.

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior on Disney+ Hotstar: (Best Costume Designer, Best Actor, Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment)

Tanhaji is a period actioner based on the life of Subedar Tanhaji Malusare, a commander in the army of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The film, which also stars Saif Ali Khan, tells the story of Tanaji and his troops' historic nighttime raid on Fort Kondana. The action-adventure film has earned over Rs 190 crore at the box office, making it the highest-grossing film of 2020.

Kappela on Netflix: (Best Production Design)

The film was released in theatres just before the lockdown and played for less than a week. Kappela, an intense romance-thriller starring Anna, Roshan, and Sreenath Bhasi, is actor Muhammed Musthafa's directorial debut.

Avwanchhit on Zee5: (Special Mention)

This is the kind of film that you genuinely hope is good because the makers' sincerity shines through. However, good intentions do not make a good film. Avwanchhit is the story of a father and son who are strangers despite living under the same roof for two decades.

Borderlands on MUBI: (Best Editing)

This is Samarth's second feature documentary; his first, The Unreserved, about passengers travelling in the Indian Railways' general compartment, won him a National Award. The 67-minute feature, produced by All Things Small and Camera and Shorts, had its Indian premiere at the Dharamshala International Film Festival following the screening at various events around the world.

Saina on Amazon Prime Video: (Best Lyrics)

Parineeti Chopra's Saina, a biopic on ace badminton player Saina Nehwal, was directed by Amol Gupte, who has movies such as Stanley Ka Dabba and Hawa Hawaai to his credit. Earlier, this was supposed to be headlined by Shraddha Kapoor. However, the actor exited the project due to scheduling issues and Parineeti took over. The film featured Manav Kaul as Saina's coach Pullela Gopichand while Paresh Rawal was in a pivotal role.

On the Brink Season 2-Bats on Earth Touch: (Best Science and Technology Film)

This series explores species and habitats rarely seen on television to reveal the hidden splendours of India's natural world. Local conservationists appear in each episode to explain why certain animals that once had large populations are now threatened with extinction.

Malik on Amazon Prime Video: (Best Audiography)

The Malayalam thriller, set in a small coastal town in Kerala, casts Faasil in the role of a messiah of the underprivileged who tries to save his family and his people in the face of rising corruption and political upheavals. Before the film's release, Faasil told IndianExpress.com, "The film is more about love, friendship, and celebration... I believe it is the type of film that will be watched again and again."

The Saviour: Brig Pritam Singh on Zee5: (Best Investigative Film)

A docu-drama based on the life of Poonch's first war hero, Brig Pritam Singh, was named Best Documentary at the 12th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2022. An unsung, little-known hero of the First Indian War, and the true saviour of Poonch, his story must be told to our and future generations. During World War II, the film also briefly covers the world's greatest escape.

Dreaming of Words on Amazon Prime Video: (Best Educational Film)

Njattyela Sreedharan, a fourth-grade dropout, is putting together a dictionary that connects four major Dravidian languages. He spent twenty-five years creating the multilingual dictionary, travelling across four states and conducting extensive research. This one-of-a-kind dictionary compares Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu. 'Dreaming of Words' follows Sreedharan through his life, work, love of languages, and the battle to get the dictionary published. The film also delves into India's linguistic and cultural diversity.

Taledanda on Zee5 (Best Film on Environment Conservation)

This depicts a person's fight against tree cutting and the forces he encounters in his quest to save them. Taledanda, which translates to "beheading," takes place in Chamarajnagar's Hadialli village. The film has a universal message because it discusses the current situation, environmental degradation, global warming, and nature conservation.

Pearl of the Desert on MUBI: (Best Audiography)

The initial title of Singh’s film was Shifting Lines of the Desert. Pearl of the Desert, translated in Rajasthani as Maru Ro Moti, is the more apt title that captures the vision of both the protagonist and the filmmaker. The story is as much about cinema as it is about music.

Shabdikkunna Kalappa on YouTube: (Best Cinematography)

This has social relevance, wherein the communication between a man and his pet bullock is narrated with a lot of sensitivity.

1232 Kms: Marenge Toh Wahin Jaakar on Hotstar: (Best Music Direction)

This chronicles the pain and agony of migrant workers during the first wave of the virus crisis and lockdown.