Renowned director and member of National Film Awards jury Ashutosh Gowariker on Friday offered frank observations on the continued relevance of the National Awards and how they are different from global accolades such as the Oscars. Delivering his speech at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony, Gowariker reminisced about his own experience with Lagaan and the pride he felt when it was recognized on Indian soil.
Oscars Are the “Cherry on the Pie”, Says Gowariker
“According to me, Oscars is the cream cherry on the pie,” Gowariker said, drawing a clear distinction between global acclaim and national recognition. “When Lagaan got the National Award for Best Wholesome Entertainment, it was a great achievement for me,” he added, emphasizing the emotional value tied to acknowledgment by the Indian government.
#WATCH | 71st National Film Awards | Film director and jury member, Ashutosh Gowariker says, “According to me, Oscars is the cream – Cherry on the pie. When ‘Lagaan’ got the National Award for best wholesome entertainment, it was a great achievement for me. When the Government… pic.twitter.com/a2akG92UaJ
— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2025
National Awards Carry Greater Emotional Significance
Gowariker’s observations are against the backdrop of existing controversy in Indian film sectors regarding the relative merits of national compared to global awards. As a director whose film (Lagaan) featured in the final shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars in 2002, Gowariker’s observations weigh heavily. The film not only mesmerized Indians but garnered international attention as well, but for the director, the acclaim locally is more psychologically resonant.
“When the Government of India gives you an award, it feels like your own people are appreciating your hard work,” he said, reaffirming the National Film Awards’ place as a benchmark of cinematic excellence in the country.
Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan remains fondly remembered as a milestone in Indian cinema a sports period drama that intertwined historical themes and populist appeal. Not only did it shatter conventions of the narrative, it also brought about a turning point for Indian films at international award circuits.
National Recognition: A Cultural Affirmation
The 71st National Film Awards ceremony also witnessed a number of other industry stalwarts present, witnessing a broad range of Indian cinema from conventional crowd-pullers to sensitive indie projects.
Gowariker’s words were a moving reminder of why national recognition occupies a special and irreproducible place in a filmmaker’s journey not merely as a sign of success, but as a validation of cultural foundations and narrative pertinence.
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