71st National Awards: ‘Vash’ Receives the Honour for Best Gujarati Film and Janki Bodiwala is the Best Supporting Actress
The Gujarati supernatural thriller Vash was honored with the National Award for Best Gujarati Film at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi. Director Krishnadev Yagnik received the award from President Droupadi Murmu at the event held at Vigyan Bhawan.
Gujarati actress Janki Bodiwala is celebrating a significant milestone, having won the Best Supporting Actress National Award for her role in the supernatural horror film ‘Vash’ at the 71st National Film Awards. ‘Vash’ also secured the Best Gujarati Feature Film award.
The film, featuring Hiten Kumar, Janki Bodiwala, Niilam Paanchal, and Hitu Kanodia, follows a family whose life is disrupted by a mysterious man possessing dark powers, leading to a series of terrifying events.
About the film
Vash, starring Hiten Kumar, Janki Bodiwala, Niilam Paanchal, and Hitu Kanodia, tells the chilling tale of a family whose life is thrown into turmoil after they encounter a mysterious stranger with dark, supernatural powers. The film’s gripping narrative and strong performances made it a standout in Gujarati cinema.
The success of Vash led to a Hindi remake, Shaitaan (2024), starring Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, and Jyotika, which brought wider recognition to the original. A sequel, Vash: Level 2, has also recently been released in theaters.
The awards ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, and other members of the jury. The 71st National Film Awards, which recognize cinematic excellence for the year 2023, were organized by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and aim to celebrate artistic and technical achievements in Indian cinema.