Guneet Monga celebrates 'Kathal’s National Award win, says 'It’s for storytellers who dare to look closer'

A heartwarming story, Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery starring Sanya Malhotra, has been awarded Best Hindi Film at the 71st National Film Awards 2023. This win comes as a proud moment for the entire team, as the makers celebrate its cultural depth, story telling and unique voice.

Producer of Kathal, Guneet Monga, took to social media and shared a heartfelt social media post celebrating the milestone. Expressing her immense gratitude for this prestigious recognition, she wrote, "Every time a story from the heart of India is honoured, it’s a win for every voice that deserves to be heard. We are incredibly honoured to receive the Best Hindi Film award for Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery at the 71st National Film Awards. Grateful beyond words for this recognition," said the producer in a social media post.

“A heartfelt congratulations to our brilliant director, Yashowardhan Mishra, and his co-writer Ashok Mishra, for crafting a story that is sharp, original, and deeply human. Huge thanks to our producing partners Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor at Balaji Telefilms. Immense gratitude for our trusted platform partner, Netflix India, and the incredible Monika Shergill, Ruchika Kapoor Sheikh. Shout out to Pratiksha Rao and Ankita Singh, who started this journey,” the statement read.

A special mention was made for Sanya Malhotra, whose portrayal of Mahima brought the character to life with nuance, warmth and incredible strength. Guneet said, “You brought Mahima to life with such nuance, warmth, and unwavering strength, dil jeet liya!” (sic)

All their efforts have made Kathal a stand-out in contemporary Hindi cinema, highlighting a simple narrative that gels well with universal themes of family, perseverance and social issues. Set and shot entirely in Madhya Pradesh, Kathal is a satirical comedy-drama film that revolves around the theft of two prized jackfruits (kathal) from a local politician's garden.