Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 from President Droupadi Murmu at the 72nd National Film Awards, recognising his five-decade career, naturalistic acting and lasting contribution to Indian cinema through more than 300 films.
Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag was conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 by President Droupadi Murmu at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on Tuesday, honouring his remarkable five-decade contribution to Indian cinema.
Presenting the country’s highest recognition in cinema, President Murmu praised Nag’s distinctive acting style and his contribution to both theatre and films. She described his performances as a synthesis of the finest dimensions of theatre and cinema and said serious students of cinema regard his acting as natural, restrained and authentic.
The President said she was “very pleased” to honour Anant Nag with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. She also recalled that she had conferred the Padma Bhushan on the veteran actor last year, recognising his long-standing contribution to the arts.
Anant Nag, one of the most respected names in Kannada cinema, began his film career in the early 1970s. Over the decades, he established himself as a versatile performer, working extensively in Kannada films as well as Hindi and other South Indian-language productions.
During a career spanning more than five decades, Nag has appeared in over 300 films. His artistic journey has extended beyond cinema to theatre and television, reflecting his wide-ranging contribution to Indian performing arts.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award also adds to a distinguished list of honours received by the actor. Nag became only the second Kannada actor after Dr Rajkumar to receive both the Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Nag has been particularly recognised for his naturalistic performances and his portrayal of ordinary, relatable characters. At a time when action-oriented and dance-driven narratives were prominent in Indian cinema, his understated acting style helped him create a distinct identity among audiences and filmmakers.
His versatility and sustained popularity earned him the description of an “evergreen hero.” Throughout his career, he has received several major awards, including five Filmfare Awards, five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards and the Karnataka State Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in Mumbai on September 4, 1948, Anant Nag has family roots in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district. His interest in acting developed through theatre, where he drew inspiration from English plays and influential theatre personalities and directors such as Satyadev Dubey, Girish Karnad and Amol Palekar.
Nag made his film debut in 1973 with a Kannada movie and subsequently became an important figure in the growth and evolution of Kannada cinema. His body of work has included a wide variety of characters and genres, allowing him to maintain a strong presence across generations.
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The conferment of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 marks another major milestone in Anant Nag’s illustrious career and recognises his enduring contribution to Indian cinema, particularly his distinctive naturalistic approach to acting.
