If we take a look at the films that made it to the list of the 72nd National Awards, a broad line is seen. These films focus on awareness along with entertainment. If we look at the popular and much appreciated films of recent years, the story and main characters have changed rapidly. No wonder these films made a mark in the public mind and also won national awards. The stories of the films, artists etc. who have won National Awards for 2024 are not just a flight of fantasy for entertainment but reality has got a prominent place. Awards show that cinema is not only a medium of entertainment but also an inspiring and awareness-raising medium.
The list of these films puts forward the same idea.Rajkumar Rao’s SrikanthKarthik Aryan’s Chandu Champion, Yami Gautam Dhar’s Article 370, Mammootty’s Brahmayugam, Randeep Hooda’s Swatantra Veer Savarkar, among the popular films Kalki 2898 AD, Pushpa: The Rule Part-2, Stree 2 and Amaran, apart from Captain Miller (Tamil) has made a worthy place as the best feature film promoting national, social and environmental values. If you notice, all these films are different from the mainstream mood which does not merely entertain.
Real life heroes in these films
Srikanth and Chandu Champion is the story of real heroes. Comes in biopic category. This is not the story of any born famous person but of those who rose from the ground and touched the sky. Dedicated to the goal of education and career. Srikanth is the story of a blind youth who was born in a very poor family and due to his inability to see, he had to face many levels of torture. He even had to fight legal and systemic battles to study science in university and travel by air. But Shrikant Bola proved that he may be blind but his vision is clear.
Rajkumar Rao in the role of Srikant Bola has touched the soul of that character. One of his dialogues in this film is very unique. In the last part of the film it is said- “According to the information, two percent of the people in the country are blind but ninety-eight percent of the people do not see.” This dialogue does not just tell a figure but also points towards a change in the system beyond the usual.
Purpose of creating awareness through cinema
Similarly, Karthik Aryan touches artistic heights in his acting in Chandu Champion. Let us tell you that this film is the biopic of India’s first Paralympic gold medal winner Murlikant Petkar. It can be understood that now if films are being made on real heroes like Srikant Bola and Muralidhar and they are included in the list of National Awards, then the aim is also to spread awareness among the public through them.
Similarly, Yami Gautam Dhar’s Article 370 is a film inspired by the true events of Kashmir, while Mammootty’s Malayalam film Brahmayugam is a period drama of the seventeenth century which has a heart-touching depiction of local folklore. Swatantra Veer Savarkar, directed for the first time by Randeep Hooda, is also a biopic of a great personality. The struggle and journey of Veer Savarkar’s life is shown in the film. On the other hand, the myth of Mahabharata has got a place in Kalki 2898 AD directed by Ashwin Nag. Ashwatthama and Kalki incarnations have been conceived on the basis of the Mahabharata story.
The characters no longer want to be vagabonds or clowns.
Overall, this is a period of change in cinema. Now the characters in films do not want to be vagabonds, loafers or jokers, they are not sentimental but thought-provoking. They are focusing on their career, education and successful life – today’s Hindi cinema is showing this thinking very well and in detail – no wonder these films are getting new audiences, stories of unsung real life heroes hidden in the depths of history are coming to the fore and they are also getting places in the categories of National Awards.
Films like 12th Fail and Tenthvi also came.
If we go back a little, there are other examples of this, in which the main characters are seen giving more importance to their career and education. Whereas earlier it was not so. Now the concerns of making a career are at the center of the story. Now the new generation is being educated and inspired by bringing the stories of history, mythology, freedom struggle and social reform heroes on screen. When we see films like 12th Fail, All India Rank or Dasvin, we see a different spirit of youth to fulfill their dreams.
In the past, unemployment and disorientation of youth were made subjects on the cinema screen, although even today those issues are present in our society, but filmmakers have now tried to give a new direction to those youth. Many good films like Lagaan, Dangal, Taare Zameen Par or Sitare Zameen Par have been seen which were seen and appreciated by a large audience. Also made a worthy place in the awards.
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