Ekta Nagar, Sep 22: Veteran actor Anant Nag is set to receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Gujarat on Tuesday, recognising his decades long contribution to Indian cinema. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier congratulated the veteran actor on the honour.
The award ceremony is being held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, marking a significant change in the traditional venue of the National Film Awards. The event has moved outside New Delhi this year as part of a broader decision to rotate the ceremony’s location across different parts of the country.
Nag, one of the most respected actors in Kannada cinema, has enjoyed a career spanning several decades. His body of work includes films across Kannada and other Indian-language industries, with performances that have covered a wide range of characters and genres.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest official recognition for an individual’s contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. Nag’s selection for the 2024 award adds another major distinction to a career that has remained closely associated with Kannada films and theatre.
The veteran actor began his career in the 1970s and went on to establish himself as a leading performer in Kannada cinema. Over the years, he has appeared in films that have contributed to the evolution of regional Indian cinema while also reaching audiences beyond Karnataka.
Nag’s work has included commercial films as well as projects known for their literary, social and cultural themes. His ability to portray characters in different settings has made him a prominent figure in the Kannada film industry.
The recognition also highlights the contribution of regional cinema to India’s broader film heritage. Kannada cinema has produced several influential filmmakers and performers, and Nag’s career represents one of the long-standing connections between theatre, regional filmmaking and mainstream Indian entertainment.
The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is also significant because it is being hosted outside Delhi for the first time in decades. According to reports, the awards will now rotate between different locations, with the change intended to broaden the reach of one of India’s major national cinema events.
The last time the National Film Awards ceremony was held outside Delhi was in 1970, when Chennai hosted the event. Since then, the ceremony had traditionally been organised in the national capital, making this year’s Gujarat event a notable change in the awards’ history.
Nag’s award comes as the Indian film industry continues to celebrate performers whose careers have contributed to the development of cinema across multiple generations. His long association with Kannada films has also helped preserve the importance of regional storytelling within the country’s diverse film landscape.
The actor has worked with several prominent directors and performers during his career and has been part of films that have achieved both critical and commercial recognition. His performances have also extended beyond cinema into television and theatre, further broadening his contribution to the performing arts.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award now places his career among the distinguished body of work recognised by India’s highest cinema honour. The presentation at the National Film Awards will formally mark the latest chapter in his long association with Indian entertainment.
The ceremony in Gujarat is expected to bring together leading names from across the country’s film industries, along with recipients of various National Film Awards. The event will also provide a platform to recognise films and performances across different Indian languages and cinematic traditions.
For Kannada cinema, Nag’s recognition carries particular significance as it celebrates an actor whose career has remained closely linked with the industry’s development over several decades. His contribution spans different phases of Indian cinema, from the era of traditional theatrical releases to the current period of rapidly changing viewing habits and digital platforms.
The award therefore combines a personal career milestone with a wider recognition of the role played by regional artists in shaping Indian cinema. As Anant Nag receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the National Film Awards ceremony will also underline the diversity and long history of India’s film culture.