Before Aparna Balamurali These 5 Female Actors Also Won The National Film Award

The 68th National Film Awards ceremony took place on Friday at the National Media Centre in New Delhi. Tamil film Soorarai Pottru won the award for Best Feature Film along with its actors claiming the Best Actor and Best Actress award. Aparna Balamurali won the award for Best Actor.

Aparna Balamurali plays the role of Sundari "Bommi" Nedumaaran in the Tamil film Soorarai Pottru. The film is a semi-biographical featured inspired by the life of G.R. Gopinath. It also features Paresh Rawal in major role.

More than 400 films competed for the awards this year in 50 different categories. These films were in 30 languages. The award ceremony was held physically after two years due to COVID-19 pandemic. Tamil-language film Soorarai Pottru won big with three out of four major titles including Best Feature Film, Best Actor and Best Actress. The awards were announced in 2021 but the ceremony did not take place. Actors Ajay Devgn for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior and Suriya for Soorarai Pottru share the Best Actor award while Tamil female actor Aparna Balamurali won the Best Actress at the 68th National Film Awards.

Here is the list of  other female actors who were honoured with the National Film Award for Best Actress so far:

Nargis Dutt

Nargis Dutt was the first actor to received the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1967 for her role in Raat Aur Din. She played the role of a married woman, Varuna, who has a dissociative identity disorder. During the day, she identifies as a typical Hindu housewife while by the night, she transforms herself into Peggy. The film received critical acclaim and Nargis Dutt was highly appreciated for her performance. Over the years, the film has also amassed a cult following.

Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi has received the most number of National Film Awards over the years. Azmi is the only actor with five National Film Awards for her performance in films including Ankur, Arth, Khandhar, Paar, and Godmother. She last received the award for Best Actress in 1999 for her role in Godmother.

Kangana Ranaut

Kangana Ranaut has won the National Film Award for Best Actress thrice. She got the first one for her role as Rani in Queen, the next one was for playing Tanu in Tanu Weds Manu Returns and the third for her roles in both Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi and Panga. The actor has also received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for Fashion, getting four National Film Awards in total.

Kangana Ranaut

Tabu

One of the most loved actor in the film industry, Tabu, is a two-time recipient of the National Film Award for Best Actress. Tabu works predominantly in Hindi-language films and has also appeared in Tamil, Marathi, Bengali and Telugu cinema along with Hollywood films. She has also received the fourth highest civilian honour of India, Padma Shri in 2014. Tabu received the National Film Award for her performances in Chandni Bar and Maachis.

Suggested Reading: Who Is Aparna Balamurali? Actor Wins National Film Award For Best Actress

Sridevi

Sridevi worked as an actor and producer in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada cinemas and received many awards over the years. She is the only actor to receive the National Film Award for Best Actress posthumously for her role in the film Mom. She was referred as the first female superstar of Indian cinema.