Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag has been named the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024, India's highest honour in cinema, recognising his decades-long contribution to Indian films. He is set to receive the award on 22 September at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony.

PM Modi's Congratulatory Message

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate the veteran actor following the announcement on Wednesday. In his post, Modi wrote: 'Congratulations to the legendary Anant Nag Ji on being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. For several decades, his effortless performances, remarkable versatility and brilliance have left a very strong mark on Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema. In whichever role he has played, he brought rare depth and authenticity. This is indeed a richly deserved honour for a truly distinguished artist.'

Anant Nag's Reaction

Speaking in an exclusive conversation, Anant Nag expressed deep gratitude for the recognition. 'Well, just last year I was a happy recipient of Padma Bhushan from the hands of the President, and I was happy to meet the Prime Minister, and now this has come, and the Prime Minister has tweeted. I was very happy because of that. I'm very grateful and thankful to him,' the actor said.

The Padma Bhushan was conferred upon him last year by President Droupadi Murmu, making the Dadasaheb Phalke Award his second major national recognition in as many years.

A Dedication to Karnataka and India

Anant Nag was effusive in his gratitude towards the people of his home state. 'All this is because of the people of Karnataka. They have blessed me, blessed my films, supported me for the last fifty years. The journalists of Karnataka, right from those fifty years, of all newspapers, have been very, very helpful, and then subsequently the TV channels and all. And of course, the people at large,' he said.

He added that he intends to dedicate the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to the people of both Karnataka and India at large, noting that while the Padma Bhushan is awarded across various fields, the Phalke Award is specifically for the craft of acting. 'The Prime Minister himself has tweeted such a beautiful tweet it is,' he said.

A Career Spanning Five Decades

Anant Nag's career stretches across fifty years in Indian cinema, with a body of work that spans Kannada, Hindi, and other regional film industries. His performances have been widely praised for their depth and restraint, and he is considered one of the most versatile actors of his generation. Notably, this recognition places him among a distinguished list of Phalke laureates who have shaped the cultural identity of Indian cinema.

With the formal ceremony scheduled for 22 September, the film fraternity and fans across Karnataka are expected to celebrate the occasion widely.