Mangaluru: Tulu cinema and artistes from coastal Karnataka received national recognition at the 72nd National Film Awards, with Shivadhwaj Shetty’s Imbu winning the Best Tulu Film award and Mangaluru-based actress Roopashree Vorkady being honoured as Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in the Kannada film Mithya.
The awards ceremony was held at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat on Tuesday, September 22, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours. The 72nd National Film Awards recognised films certified during 2024.
‘Imbu’ wins Best Tulu Film
Directed by Shivadhwaj Shetty and produced by Pichchar Studio, Imbu was honoured with the Best Tulu Film award, bringing national attention to the regional film industry of coastal Karnataka.
The film explores Tulu culture and the region’s traditional Daiva worship alongside contemporary life. Technology and its growing influence on society form an important part of the film’s narrative.
For Shetty, the National Film Award marks a significant milestone in a filmmaking journey spanning nearly two decades. The recognition also places Tulu-language cinema on a prominent national platform.
Imbu had earlier travelled to international film festivals and received recognition at several events. Its National Film Award has now added another major honour to the film’s journey.
The award is also significant for Tulu cinema, which has continued to develop its presence through films that explore the language, traditions and social life of the coastal region.
Roopashree Vorkady wins for ‘Mithya’
Mangaluru-based actress Roopashree Vorkady received the National Film Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in Mithya, directed by Sumanth Bhat.
The Kannada film had a strong showing at the 72nd National Film Awards, winning the award for Best Kannada Film. Young actor Athish S Shetty was also honoured with the award for Best Child Artist.
Roopashree’s recognition adds another major national honour to the coastal Karnataka film community. Her award highlights the contribution of artistes from the region to Kannada cinema and the wider Indian film industry.
The recognition for Mithya also places the film and its performers among the notable recipients at this year’s National Film Awards.
National recognition for Tulu-language cinema
The recognition for Imbu is particularly notable as Tulu is not among the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Union government has noted that the National Film Awards recognise cinema produced in languages beyond those listed in the Eighth Schedule. In the 72nd edition, Tulu and Garhwali cinema received separate honours.
For the Tulu film industry, the Best Tulu Film award represents recognition at one of the country’s most prominent national film platforms.
Tulu cinema has a long history in coastal Karnataka, with filmmakers and artistes continuing to produce films rooted in local culture while also exploring contemporary subjects. The success of Imbu demonstrates how a regional-language film can reach audiences and institutions beyond its traditional geographical base.
The film’s focus on Tulu traditions, Daiva culture and modern technological changes also reflects the evolving themes being explored by filmmakers working in the language.
A landmark moment for coastal Karnataka
The double recognition for Imbu and Roopashree Vorkady has made the 72nd National Film Awards particularly significant for the coastal Karnataka film community.
While Imbu brought national recognition to Tulu-language cinema, Vorkady’s award for Mithya underlined the contribution of Mangaluru-based talent to Kannada films.
The honours also come at a time when regional-language cinema continues to gain visibility at national and international platforms. Recognition at the National Film Awards provides filmmakers working in regional languages with a wider platform for their stories and artistic work.
For Shivadhwaj Shetty and the team behind Imbu, the award marks the culmination of years of filmmaking and festival participation. For Roopashree Vorkady, the honour adds a major national accolade to her acting career.
Together, the achievements have brought Tulu cinema and coastal Karnataka artistes into the national spotlight, making the 72nd National Film Awards a notable chapter for the region’s film industry.