'Brahmastra' and Animated Film 'A Coconut Tree' Take Home National Film Awards 2024

At the 2024 National Film Awards, *Brahmastra: Part 1 – Shiva* and *A Coconut Tree* took home top honors, solidifying their place among India’s best cinematic achievements. Ayan Mukherji's *Brahmastra* won the award for Best AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) film, while *A Coconut Tree*, directed by Joshy Benedict, was named Best Animated Film. The winners for the 70th National Film Awards, honoring films from 2022, were announced on August 16.

The visual effects in *Brahmastra*, starring Ranbir Kapoor, were a major talking point, with over 3,000 VFX shots creating a breathtaking cosmic adventure on screen. The film's VFX was crafted by DNEG India and London, alongside ReDefine studio, earning wide praise for its otherworldly, visually stunning effects.

On the other hand, *A Coconut Tree*, a silent animated short by Joshy Benedict, wowed audiences with its artistry and emotional depth. Benedict, an acclaimed artist from Kerala, has made waves in the animation world, and his work on *A Coconut Tree* reflects his unique style. Known for his debut graphic novel *The Pig Flip*, originally published in Malayalam as *Pannimalath*, Benedict has received critical acclaim within Kerala’s artistic circles. His first independent animated short, *A Coconut Tree*, has been showcased at film festivals around the world, marking a standout moment in his already impressive career.

The National Film Awards ceremony was livestreamed on YouTube, where the prestigious jury—featuring prominent filmmakers like Feature Films Jury chairperson Rahul Rawail, Non-feature Films Jury chairperson Dr. Nila Madhab Panda, and Best Writing on Cinema Jury chairperson Gangadhar Mudaliar—announced the winners. The awards celebrated India’s finest in film, with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's joint secretary, Vrunda Desai, present to witness the historic moment.

Both *Brahmastra* and *A Coconut Tree* highlight the incredible talent and creativity driving India's film industry, from groundbreaking visual effects to beautifully crafted animated stories.                                                                                             

The 2024 National Film Awards brought exciting wins across various categories, highlighting the diversity and creativity of India’s cinematic landscape. Here's a breakdown of the major winners.

In the Feature Films category, *Aattam (The Play)*, a Malayalam film, took home the top prize for Best Film, while *Fouja* (Haryanvi) won Best Debut Film of a Director. *Kantara* (Kannada) grabbed the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, while *Kutch Express* (Gujarati) won Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values. *Brahmastra: Part 1 – Shiva*, with its stunning visual effects, was awarded Best Film in the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comic) category.

Sooraj Barjatya was recognized for Best Direction for his work on *Uunchai* (Hindi). Rishab Shetty clinched the Best Actor award for his performance in *Kantara* (Kannada), while Nithya Menen (*Thiruchitrambalam*, Tamil) and Manasi Parekh (*Kutch Express*, Gujarati) shared the Best Actress title. Supporting actor awards went to Pavan Raj Mallhotra for *Fouja* and Neena Gupta for *Uunchai*.

Music also had its moment at the awards, with Arijit Singh winning Best Male Playback Singer for *Kesariya* from *Brahmastra: Part 1* and Bombay Jayashri taking home Best Female Playback Singer for *Chaayum Veyil* from *Saudi Vellakka* (Malayalam). Ravi Varman won Best Cinematography for his stunning work on *Ponniyin Selvan 1* (Tamil), while AR Rahman grabbed Best Background Score for *Ponniyin Selvan 2*.

In the Non-Feature Films category, *Ayena* (Hindi) by Siddhant Sarin won Best Non-Feature Film, while *A Coconut Tree* by Joshy Benedict was named Best Animation Film. Other standout winners included *Murmurs of the Jungle* by Sahil Vaidya, which won Best Documentary, and *From The Shadow*, which earned Miriam Chandy Menacherry the Best Director award.

The evening celebrated the wide-reaching talent across India’s film industry, honoring exceptional works from every corner of the country, from *KGF: Chapter 2* (Kannada) to *Ponniyin Selvan* (Tamil). The 2024 National Film Awards not only recognized achievements in popular and mainstream cinema but also highlighted the incredible depth in regional and non-feature films, reflecting the rich diversity of Indian storytelling.

From groundbreaking VFX in *Brahmastra* to the heartfelt narrative of *A Coconut Tree*, the National Film Awards reaffirmed the power of Indian cinema to push boundaries and captivate audiences, both at home and globally.