The Assamese feature film Juiphool, directed by Jadumani Dutta, has won the Rajat Kamal for Best Assamese Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards.

Key Highlights

• Juiphool won the Rajat Kamal in the Best Assamese Feature Film category at the 72nd National Film Awards.
• The film is centred on the lives of two mothers living along the Assam-Nagaland border.
  • Juiphool tells the poignant story of Lakhimi, a pregnant Assamese widow, and Rengma, a Naga woman who suffers repeated miscarriages.
• The film is directed and produced by Jadumani Dutta.
• Shibrani Kalita, Bendang Meren Ao, Rituparna Phukan, Tridip Gogoi, Dipanti Lotha, Debabrat Saikia and Tina Gogoi among others are seen playing key roles.
• The award is presented under the National Film Awards, India’s highest official film honours.
• The recognition acknowledges the film’s contribution to Assamese-language cinema and its artistic excellence.

About National Film Awards

• • The National Film Awards is administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • The awards are conferred under the following sections: 

• Feature Film, Non-Feature Film, Best Writing on Cinema and Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

• National Film Awards were established in 1954, to promote cinematic excellence in India,  where the Best Feature Film award was given to Shyamchi Aai (Marathi). 
  • In the first edition, the awards were given for the films of the year 1953. 
• The awards were initially called ‘State Awards’ and two President’s Gold Medals, two certificates of merit, and 12 silver medals for regional films were presented in the earlier years
• The most awarded film in the history of the awards remains Lagaan, directed by this year’s jury chief, Ashutosh Gowariker.

Exam Hook – Prelims

Q. With reference to the National Film Awards, consider the following statements:

1. Juiphool won the Rajat Kamal for Best Assamese Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards.
2. The National Film Awards are administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
3. Village Rockstars became the second Assamese film to win the Swarna Kamal for Best Feature Film.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 ✅
(d) 1 and 3 only

One-line Wrap

The success of Juiphool reflects the enduring strength of Assamese cinema and underscores the need to build a vibrant ecosystem that enables regional films to achieve sustained national and global recognition.