Who won the Best Direction award at the 72nd National Film Awards?

The correct answer is Anant Nag. President Droupadi Murmu presented the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 to the veteran Kannada actor at the 72nd National Film Awards at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, in Gujarat. Accepting it, Anant Nag spoke of a childhood in an ashram, a move to Mumbai where the stage gave him his first role, and a run of nearly 50 plays before he turned to cinema. He later worked with the director Shyam Benegal, chose Kannada films and made Bengaluru his karmabhoomi, and he had received the Padma Bhushan from the same President a year earlier. Mammootty is wrong because he shared the Best Actor award for Bramayugam. Sanjay Mishra is wrong because he was named Best Supporting Actor for Bhakshak. Randeep Hooda is wrong because he was praised for his first film as a director, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, and not for a lifetime honour.

The correct answer is Ekta Nagar, Kevadia. The 72nd National Film Awards were conferred there, in Gujarat, and it was the first time the ceremony had been taken out of the national capital. The site was chosen for its association with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and with national unity, and the President said the choice suited a ceremony that celebrates the cultural and national unity of the country. The Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel both described hosting the event as a matter of pride for the state. New Delhi is wrong because this edition deliberately moved away from Delhi, where earlier ceremonies were held. Mumbai is wrong because, although it is the centre of the Hindi film industry, it did not host this ceremony. Gandhinagar is wrong because it is the capital of Gujarat, while the awards were given at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia.

The correct answer is Article 370. The film was judged the Best Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards, and Yami Gautam won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for the same film, which made it the evening's biggest winner. Chandu Champion is wrong because Kartik Aaryan won a share of the Best Actor award for it, while the film itself did not take the top feature prize. Kalki 2898 AD is wrong because it was named the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, a separate category meant for mainstream entertainers. Amaran is wrong because Rajkumar Periasamy won the Best Direction award for it, again a different category. Aspirants should also note Captain Miller, honoured as the best feature promoting national, social and environmental values, and that the Best Actor award this year was shared between Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan.

The correct answer is Statue of Unity. Ashwini Vaishnaw said Ekta Nagar has gained recognition across the world as a highly attractive destination because it is home to the world's tallest statue, that of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He argued that when the President of India and leading film personalities visit such a place for the National Film Awards, more people learn about and experience the destination, which is the whole point of pairing the awards with tourism.

The other three are famous Gujarat sites but in different places: Sabarmati Ashram is Gandhi's ashram in Ahmedabad, Rani ki Vav is the UNESCO-listed stepwell at Patan, and Somnath Temple stands on the Saurashtra coast. Ekta Nagar is the township at Kevadia, on the Narmada, named for the "Statue of Unity" that rises beside the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

The correct answer is National Film Awards. The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting said the National Film Awards are being taken to India's best tourist destinations, inspired by the Prime Minister's approach of holding national events beyond conventional venues, much as G20 meetings were spread across States. He invited all States to propose their best tourism destination, with facilities and a plan for 360-degree development, and the selected State will host the next awards there.

The other awards are distractors from different fields: the Padma Awards are civilian honours announced on Republic Day eve, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are for performing arts, and the National Sports Awards honour athletes and coaches. The film awards are presented by the President, which is why Vaishnaw pointed out that the President and the film industry visiting a destination such as Ekta Nagar would draw attention to it.