The 66th National Film Awards for 2018 is all set to take place at a gala event in New Delhi on 23rd December, 2019. The Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu will give away the Awards in gracious presence of Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Prakash Javadekar, and other senior dignitaries. The function will witness film luminaries being awarded for their outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema.
The great doyen of Indian cinema, Shri Amitabh Bachchan is being awarded with the prestigious 50th Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Indian cinema’s biggest honour in his 50th year in the Indian film industry. Earlier, in a Press Conference in August this year, presided over by Shri Rahul Rawail, Chairperson, Feature Film Category; Shri AS Kanal, Chairperson, Non-Feature Film Category and Shri Utpal Borpujari, Chairperson, Best Writing on Cinema, it was announced that Gujarati film Hellaro won Best Feature Film Award. Badhaai Ho bagged award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Hindi movie Padman declared Best Film on Social Issues, Aditya Dhar won Best Director Award for Uri: The Surgical Strike, Ayushman Khurana and Vicky Kaushal jointly won Best Actor Award for their performances in Andhadhun and Uri: The Surgical Strike, Keerthy Suresh bagged Best Actress trophy for her performance in Telugu movie Mahanati, Marathi movie Paani won the award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/ Preservation, Kannada film Ondalla Eradalla gets Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration and Uttarakhand declared Most Film Friendly State.
It is noteworthy to mention that the selections for National Film Awards are made by an independent and impartial jury consisting of eminent film makers and film personalities.