Veteran actor Anant Nag receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award to standing ovation

Veteran actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 from President Droupadi Murmu at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on Tuesday, September 22. The honour recognises Nag’s contribution to Indian cinema over a career spanning more than seven decades. He is the second Kannada actor to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, after Dr Rajkumar was honoured in 1995.

The veteran, in his speech said, "I am trying to digest the majesty of this function. I am very happy to be with you all today here. As an actor, you have seen me perform. You have seen some of the snippets. I grew up in an aashram - my childhood up to 12 years. In Mumbai, I got a chance to act in a play."

He went on to



talk about being Karnataka's brand ambassador as an actor and said that it was in Karnataka that he felt most loved and respected despite working across languages.

While dedicating his award to his industry colleagues, Nag added, "This award doesn't belong to me alone. It also belongs to everyone – producers, directors, associate directors, assistance directors. The awards belongs to millions of people who opened their hearts and minds to my characters over decades."

"Before I conclude, I want to quote Sri Adishankracharya - 'Vande Mataram.' This great country is my janmabhoomi (birthplace), Karnataka is my karmabhoomi (land of duty). Bharat is also my dharmabhoomi (sacred land)," he concluded.