R. Madhavan's directorial debut, 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect,' secured the top honor as it clinched the Best Feature Film award at the 69th National Film Awards ceremony held on Thursday. Among a pool of 280 films spanning 28 languages that vied for recognition, the event took place at the National Media Centre in the nation's capital.

Released in 2022, 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' stands as a biographical drama with Madhavan playing a pivotal role. The movie revolves around the life of Nambi Narayanan, portrayed by Madhavan, a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation, who faced allegations in the ISRO espionage case before eventually being cleared of all charges. The film traces Narayanan's journey from his days as a graduate student at Princeton University to his contributions as a scientist, unveiling the unjust espionage accusations imposed on him.

The award ceremony witnessed a dual triumph in the Best Actress category, with Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon sharing the accolade for their outstanding performances in 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' and 'Mimi,' respectively. Meanwhile, Allu Arjun was honored as the Best Actor for his role in 'Pushpa: The Rise.'

Further accolades included the Best Supporting Actor award presented to Pankaj Tripathi for his remarkable performance in 'Mimi,' while Pallavi Joshi earned the Best Supporting Actress title for her role in 'The Kashmir Files,' a film that also earned the distinguished Nargis Dutt award for Best Film on national integration. The coveted Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment went to 'RRR,' featuring Jr NTR and Ram Charan.