Jul 18, 2026 10:36pm IST
72nd National Film Awards: Winners Rajkumar Periasamy, GV Prakash and Rajsekhar Pandian Celebrate The Honor (EXCLUSIVE)
The 72nd National Film Awards sparked celebrations across the industry, with winners and filmmakers reflecting on the dedication, challenges, and creative journeys behind their acclaimed projects. Following “Meiyazhagan” receiving a Special Mention, producer Rajsekhar Pandian and sound engineer Suren G shared their feelings. They recall the hurdles they overcame during filming and express their gratitude for the prestigious recognition.
Rajsekhar Pandian opens up about “Meiyazhagan” ’s Special Mention. He shares, “This film was shot at night, and we faced a lot of challenges because we were shooting with live sound, so we had to keep the generator at a distance. We lost power because of that, and we also lost a day of shooting while we sorted it out. But this was a special film. I knew it from the moment I read the script. I also want to appreciate Suren, the sound engineer, who helped us win this award.”
Suren G reacts to his win for the sound for the movie. He says, “It came as a shock to me. I was not expecting this award. I was actually on a run when I started getting calls. While reading the script, I realized that this was a conversational film. So, I didn’t want the engineering elements to impact the narrative and hence ensured that the sound was more soulful in nature so as not to take away from the conversations in the movie.”
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Night Shift Studios’ producer Chakravarthy Ramachandra opens up after “Bramayugam” ’s win. He adds, “We are deeply honored that Bramayugam has been recognized with two National Film Awards. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mammootty for his extraordinary portrayal of Kodumon Potti, and to Shehnad Jalal for his exceptional cinematography, both of which were instrumental in shaping the film’s artistic vision. These honors reaffirm our commitment to telling distinctive, culturally rooted stories that resonate with audiences around the world.”
Filmmaker Yadhu Vamsi, about his film “Committee Kurrolu” receiving the Best Telugu Film nod at the 72nd National Film Awards, says, “Honestly, this recognition was completely unexpected, but we are extremely honored to win a National Award for “Committee Kurrollu.” This award belongs to everyone who worked on the film. I thank producer Niharika Konidela for believing in such a story and backing it wholeheartedly. We introduced 11 new actors and several fresh talents, and they brought real emotions and natural performances to the screen. “Committee Kurrollu” spoke about friendship, human values, rural traditions, and reservation issues. A special mention to make-up artist Ravi Kumar, who also won a National Award for his work. The way he designed the body transformations added authenticity to the film. Every member of the team deserves this honor.”
GV Prakash opens up on his win for the music of “Amaran.” He shares, “This is the third time I am winning a national award. And I’m just as excited, as it is very special to me. ‘Amaran’ was a tough film to compose music for as there is both war and love. But once the romantic theme music became popular after the teaser launch, we knew we were onto a good thing. I have lost out on awards for “Aayirathil Oruvan,” “Mayakkam Enna,” “Veyil,” “Aadukalam,” “Madarasapattinam” in the past. So, I am extremely happy with this win.”
Director Rajkumar Periasamy shares more about “Amaran” ’s wins. He says, “I’m overwhelmed, especially to look back and see the names that have received this before. I’ve been receiving a lot of praise for this film, and I was often told that this might be coming. The moment we made and delivered the film was itself a very satisfying journey. I think the filmmaker’s journey ends there. After that, whatever comes is a complimentary encouragement. I think this will put me on the path to make good films continuously. At this time, I am thinking of the family of Major Mukund Varadarajan sir and the Indian Army personnel. I feel like this is a tribute to them.”
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Sumanth Bhatt, director of “Mithya,” says, “I feel elated that ‘Mithya’ has won the National Award for Best Kannada Film. Growing up watching masters like Girish Kasaravalli, this was always the ultimate dream. The National Award is the ultimate validation for a young filmmaker, and to find myself on a list alongside filmmakers like them is something I still can’t quite believe. This gives me tremendous confidence and inspires me to do a lot more. The other wonderful aspect is that somebody like Rakshit Shetty had faith in me and in ‘Mithya.’ When films like this win, it encourages producers like Rakshit to continue backing new talent and gives the industry the confidence to invest in films like ‘Mithya.’ I am also delighted that Atish Shetty, who did such a brilliant job, has won the National Award for Best Child Actor for the film. Another moment that literally had me jumping out of my seat was hearing Roopashree Varkady win Best Supporting Actress. It is very easy for understated performances to go unnoticed, so when someone recognizes the nuances and honesty that go into such a performance, it is truly wonderful.”
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