Anant Nag will be honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Legendary actor Anant Nag, known for his impressive work in Hindi and Kannada in films like Minchina Ota, Hamsageethe, Ankur and Manthan, will be honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, the government announced on Wednesday (16 Sep 2026).

Also read | Actor Anant Nag, two folk artists from North Karnataka among nine Padma awardees from the state

With a filmography of more than 250 films over five decades, the 78-year-old man is a well-known name in the theater world as well.

The award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, will be conferred on him at the National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat on September 22.

Congratulating the veteran actor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “For decades, his effortless performances, remarkable versatility and brilliance have left a very strong mark on Indian cinema, especially Kannada cinema. He brought rare depth and authenticity to whatever role he played.”

“This is a truly richly deserved tribute to a truly significant artist,” he said in a post on X.

“On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that the actor will be conferred with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 for his contribution to Indian cinema and an illustrious film journey that has inspired generations,” the Press Information Bureau said in a statement.

Malayalam cinema star Mohanlal was honored last year. This year, the prize is awarded for 2024 due to a delay in the schedule due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ananth Nag and Rekha Rao in Kannada movie Hamsa Geethe. File | Photo credit: Special arrangement

A noted actor who also dabbled in politics and served as a minister in Karnataka, Mr. Nag grew up in a religious family in Bhatkal in coastal Karnataka. He was sent to Bombay for higher education. His early influences from growing up in mathematics shaped his interest in stories.

During his stay in Bombay, Mr. Nag felt like a fish out of water, but gradually he was attracted to the theater movement there. He started doing plays in Konkani, Hindi and Marathi at the age of five. There he met and was influenced by people like Satyadev Dubey, Girish Karnad and Amol Palekar.

Mr. Nag made his cinema debut with the 1973 Kannada film ‘Sankalpa’ and gradually became an integral part of the country’s parallel cinema in the 1970s and 1980s.

He was part of the popular Doordashan serial ‘Malgudi Days’, a television adaptation of RK Narayan’s popular work directed by Mr. Nag’s filmmaker brother, Shankar Nag.

Mr. Dubey introduced him to Shyam Benegal and then started working together through six films, each a classic. It started with ‘Ankur’, also Mr Nag’s first Hindi film, and was followed by ‘Nishant’, ‘Manthan’, ‘Bhumika’, ‘Kondura’ and ‘Kalyug’. He is equally successful in commercial Kannada cinema.

Ananth Nag in Godi Banna Saadaran Maikattu. File | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Mr. Nag’s portrayal of a Carnatic music disciple in GB Iyer’s “Hamsageethe” in 1975 won him the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada.

A multi-faceted personality who is equally good as a singer and tabla player, the actor became famous for his natural acting skills at a time when stars were actively cultivating certain mannerisms.

His major hits in Kannada include ‘Bayalu Daari’, ‘Na Ninna Bidalare’, ‘Chandanada Gombe’, ‘Aruna Raaga’, ‘Mududida Taavare Aralithu’, ‘Breaking News’ and ‘Dashamukha’, ‘Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu’ and ‘KGF’.

Mr Nag, who was a minister in JH Patel’s Karnataka government, spoke of being influenced by the JP movement at its peak. In 2004, Mr. Nag unsuccessfully contested the Chamarajpet constituency in the Bangalore Assembly elections from the Janata Dal (Secular). Mr Nag also introduced his brother Shankar Nag to cinema. Mr. Shankar acted, wrote, directed and produced many action films until his death in a car accident in 1990 at the age of 35.

Last year, Mr. Nag was awarded the Padma Bhushan.

The awards were first introduced in 1969 and are named after Dadasaheb Phalk, who is considered the father of Indian cinema with his 1913 film ‘Raja Harishchandra’.

Published – 16 Sep 2026 18:36 IST