Mumbai, Sep 23 (NationPress) The Gujarati supernatural thriller film ‘Vash’ has been awarded the National Award for Best Gujarati Film during the ongoing 71st National Film Awards ceremony held on Tuesday.

Film director Krishnadev Yagnik received this esteemed award from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. The film features prominent actors Hiten Kumar, Janki Bodiwala, Niilam Paanchal, and Hitu Kanodia in pivotal roles. It narrates the tale of a family confronted by a mysterious individual whose sinister abilities disrupt their peaceful existence, triggering a series of horrifying events.

The film's triumph has inspired a Hindi remake, Shaitaan (2024), starring Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, and Jyotika, which has drawn considerable attention to the original Gujarati film. Additionally, it has resulted in the sequel ‘Vash: Level 2’, which recently hit theaters.

The award ceremony commenced shortly after the arrival of dignitaries, including the President, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, director-producer Ashutosh Gowariker, filmmaker P. Sheshadri, and writer Gopalakrishna Pai.

The 71st National Film Awards, which honor excellence in Indian cinema for 2023, were declared on August 1, 2025, by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The ongoing awards ceremony is taking place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, where the President of India is bestowing the accolades.

This event is organized by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) and employs a systematic jury structure, where regional committees contribute to a central committee chaired by Ashutosh Gowariker for the Feature Film category. The awards strive to celebrate the artistic and technical accomplishments of Indian cinema without public bias, ensuring a formal presentation.