Delhi, September 23, 2025: Big news from the 71st National Film Awards! Netflix just scored a major win with its original movie, Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery, taking home the award for Best Hindi Film!
Netflix’s First Hindi Original to Win Big!
Directed by Yashowardhan Mishra, this funny and thought-provoking film stars Sanya Malhotra, Anant Joshi, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, and a bunch of other talented folks. This win is a huge deal – it’s the first time a Netflix Hindi Original has ever won a National Award!
A Moment of Pride in Delhi
The President of India herself presented the award to Yashowardhan Mishra at the ceremony. Producers Guneet Monga Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, and Netflix’s Monika Shergill were all there to celebrate.
Netflix’s Take on the Win
Monika Shergill, the VP of Content at Netflix India, was thrilled, saying:
“This award makes us incredibly proud. Kathal shows how powerful authentic, local stories can be, and how they can resonate with audiences all over the world.”
Sikhya Entertainment Is Over the Moon
Producers Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain described the win as “surreal.” They gave a shout-out to the film’s amazing writing and direction, and thanked the cast and crew for bringing so much heart and authenticity to the project.
Balaji Telefilms Celebrates the Magic
Ektaa R Kapoor called the moment “magical,” emphasizing how Kathal tells a unique Indian story that connects with viewers both at home and abroad.
The Director’s Thanks
Yashowardhan Mishra, the director, said he was “humbled and overjoyed” by the honor. He thanked his co-writer Ashok Mishra, the entire cast, and all the production partners for helping him bring the story to life.
A Game-Changer for Streaming
Kathal‘s big win is a sign of things to come! It really solidifies Netflix’s role in shaping Indian cinema and proves that streaming originals can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with traditional films. It’s a new era for OTT storytelling!
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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