Veteran star Anant Nag set to receive Dadasaheb Phalke honour at 2024 National Film Awards

Anant Nag, one of Kannada cinema’s most respected performers, will be presented with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the nation’s highest honour for contributions to film, at the upcoming National Film Awards ceremony, The Hindu reported. The event is scheduled for September 22 in Kevadia, Gujarat, where the government will host the 69th edition of the awards.

The National Film Awards ceremony, now held at the state‑run museum complex in Kevadia, brings together filmmakers, actors and policymakers from across the country. This year’s gathering will also feature the presentation of the President’s Gold Medal for Best Feature Film and a host of technical awards, but the Dadasaheb Phalke Award remains the centerpiece, symbolising a lifetime of artistic achievement.

Anant Nag’s career spans more than five decades, during which he has acted in over 200 films in Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam. He rose to prominence in the 1970s with roles in classics such as Naa Ninna Bidalaare and Accident, and later earned critical acclaim for his performances in Malgudi Days and Nagamandala. Colleagues credit his versatility and understated style for shaping modern Kannada storytelling, and he has mentored several younger actors who cite him as an influence.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, instituted in 1969, is named after the father of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, who produced the country’s first full‑length feature film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1913. Recipients are chosen by a jury of film experts and are honoured for “outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.” Past laureates include legends such as Satyajit Ray, Lata Mangeshkar and Amitabh Bachchan, underscoring the award’s prestige.

Receiving the award places Nag among an elite group of artists whose work has left an indelible mark on India’s cultural landscape. The ceremony will also be streamed live, allowing fans nationwide to witness the tribute. As the industry celebrates his legacy, the honour highlights the enduring relevance of regional cinema in the broader narrative of Indian film history.