Anant Nag to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024; PM Modi hails 'richly deserved' honour
Veteran actor Anant Nag will be conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, the government announced on Wednesday. The award will be presented at the National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22.
Nag, 78, has acted in more than 250 films over five decades, working across Kannada and Hindi cinema. His notable films include Minchina Ota, Hamsageethe, Ankur and Manthan. He is also a widely respected name in the theatre world.
His body of work spans both mainstream and parallel cinema, from Shyam Benegal's Ankur (1974) and Manthan (1976) in Hindi to a long list of Kannada films that made him a familiar face for generations of viewers in Karnataka.
Announcing the decision, the Press Information Bureau said the award was being conferred “for his contribution to Indian cinema and an illustrious cinematic journey that has inspired generations.” The announcement followed a recommendation by the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the actor in a post on X. “For several decades, his effortless performances, remarkable versatility and brilliance have left a very strong mark on Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema,” he said. “In whichever role he has played, he brought rare depth and authenticity.”
The Prime Minister added, “This is indeed a richly deserved honour for a truly distinguished artist.”
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the filmmaker regarded as the father of Indian cinema, whose 1913 film Raja Harishchandra is widely recognised as India's first feature-length film. The honour was instituted in 1969 and is given annually to recognise a lifetime of contribution to Indian cinema.
Past recipients include actors, directors, composers and technicians drawn from the country's many film industries, reflecting the award's national character. Unlike honours given for a single performance, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award looks at an entire career.
The National Film Awards, at which the honour is presented, are traditionally conferred by the President of India. The ceremony this year is being held in Kevadia, Gujarat.
For Kannada cinema, Nag's recognition adds to a record of national honours for an industry that has long been a major centre of film production in the country. His selection places him alongside the most respected names in Indian filmmaking.
The award for 2024 was announced in the run-up to the September 22 ceremony, where the government will also present the National Film Awards for the year.
