71st National Film Awards| Mysurus Chidananda S Naik luggage one other honour after Cannes win

Chidananda S Naik’s Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Knowgained the Best Script award within the Non-Feature Film competitors on the 71st National Film Awards. The Mysuru filmmaker added one other to his cap after shining on the Cannes Film Festival in 2024.

For his win on the National Film Awards, Chidananda acquired a money prize of Rs 2,00,00. Chidananda’s movie, primarily based on a Kannada folktale, had clinched the La Cinef prime prize at Cannes in May 2024.

His film revolves round an aged lady who steals a rooster and deprives a village of daylight. “For his evocative use of folklore, weaving the sense of odor as a delicate letimotif to sensitively discover the nuances of perception system,” learn the quotation of the award. Filmmaker P Sheshadri, member of the jury panel, introduced the award on Friday (August 1, 2025).

A physician-turned filmmaker, Chidananda is a graduate of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). The movie, shot fully at evening with restricted sources, had additionally certified for the Oscars 2025 within the Live Action Short Film class.

ALSO READ: Cannes 2024: Kannada brief movie ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ to be screened

Meanwhile, Kandeelu – The Ray of Hope gained the Best Kannada Film honour. The quotation learn, “For crafting a transferring narrative, rooted in real-life experiences of farmer, and striving in opposition to systemic apathy. The movie presents a story of grief, obligation and quiet dedication.”

The movie revolves round Seeba, a poor farmer, who goals of proudly owning a farm for his household however struggles to make ends meet. He sends his son overseas with the hope of fulfilling his dream however is shattered when his son tragically dies and he can’t carry again his physique. Directed by Okay Yashoda Prakash and produced by Swastik Entertainment, the film was screened on the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) in 2023.