National Film Awards: Kannada cinema has secured only 4 'Best Actor' awards in 70 years!

The prestigious National Film Awards, which hold a significant place in the Indian film industry, were announced on Friday (August 16). Rishab Shetty, the actor who made waves in the Indian cinema with the Kannada film Kantara, has won the Best Actor award.

This marks the fourth time in the 70-year history of the National Film Awards that Kannada cinema has secured the Best Actor award. The Kannada film industry has waited a decade for this honor, with Rishab Shetty joining the ranks of three other Kannada actors who have previously won this accolade. Here is a brief look at those actors:

M.V. Vasudeva Rao (1975)

M. V. Vasudeva Rao, who started his film career as a child actor in 1928, was the first Kannada actor to win the National Award for Best Actor. He received this honour in 1975 for his performance as Choma in the acclaimed Kannada film Chomana Dudi.

Charuhasan Srinivasan (1986)

Charuhasan Srinivasan, a renowned actor, director, and lawyer, made his mark not just in Kannada cinema but also in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi films. He brought the Best Actor award to Kannada cinema for the second time in 1986 for his role in the Kannada film Tabarana Kathe, directed by Girish Kasaravalli. He also won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor.

Sanchari Vijay (2014)

Sanchari Vijay, known as Vijay Kumar Basavarajayya, began his career as a theater actor and appeared in 25 films over his 10-year career. He won the Best Actor award in 2014 for his portrayal of a transgender character in the film ‘Naanu Avanalla Avalu‘, directed by B. S. Lingadevaru. This marked the third time the award came to Kannada cinema. His performance also earned him the Karnataka State Film Award and the Filmfare Critics Award.

Rishab Shetty (2024)

The name Rishab Shetty has become synonymous with Kantara. A multifaceted personality in Kannada cinema, he has made his mark as an actor, director, and producer. Now, for his performance in Kantara, Rishab Shetty has been honored with the Best Actor award at the 70th National Film Awards, marking a significant achievement for Kannada cinema.