The 68th National Film Awards were presented at a glittering ceremony in Delhi on 30th September. Ajay Devgan and Suriya accepted the best actor awards for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior and Soorarai Pottru (Tamil) respectively while late Malayalam filmmaker Sachidanandan K.R. was posthumously awarded the best director for Ayyappanum Koshiyum. The film also fetched awards for Biju Menon as the best supporting actor and for tribal folk singer Nanjiamma as the best female playback singer. Nanjiamma received a standing ovation when she came on the stage to accept her award. Asha Parekh was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu.
Filmmaker Madonne Ashwin won the Indira Gandhi award for the best debut film of a director for Mandela. Vishal Bharadwaj won the best music director award for the song Marenge toh wahin jaakar.