Film Critics Guild and Group M Motion Entertainment, in collaboration with Vistas Media Capital, announced the winners of the Critics' Choice Awards 2024. The grand star-studded ceremony, sponsored by Disney+ Hotstar, Britannia Her Store, and Streax Hair Colour, recognized and honored the best feature film, short film, and web series from India. Adjudicated by an esteemed jury panel, the nominees and winners spanned across all languages and platforms. Dainik Savera and Red FM served as the media partners for this prestigious event. Critic Choice Awards 2024 will stream exclusively soon on Disney+ Hotstar.
Kickstarting the awards gala, Disney+ Hotstar proudly claimed the title of Best OTT Platform of the year, showcasing their unwavering commitment to delivering unparalleled entertainment experiences for audiences. Vidhu Vinod Chopra's poignant drama '12th Fail' won the coveted title of Best Feature Film, resonating deeply with audiences and critics alike. In the unscripted show category, fan favorite Hotstar Specials’ Koffee With Karan claimed the Best Unscripted show award, solidifying its place as a standout in the genre. Vikrant Massey's exceptional performance in the film earned him the prestigious award for Best Actor, while Shefali Shah's captivating performance in ‘Three of Us’ garnered her recognition as the Best Actress. Additionally, Jaideep Ahlawat's compelling role in 'Jaane Jaan' earned him the award for Best Supporting Actor.
The year 2023 witnessed cinematic brilliance, with diverse narratives and stellar performances captivating audiences nationwide. Notably, 'Nocturnal Burger' emerged as a powerhouse in the short film category, securing multiple awards, while 'Kohrra' triumphed in the web series category, demonstrating the depth and diversity of talent in the digital space.
The Critics Choice Awards also proudly recognized the legendary Usha Khanna for her exceptional contribution to Indian cinema under a special award category. With a career spanning decade, Khanna has solidified her position as one of the industry's most prolific music composers. Her timeless melodies have graced numerous iconic films, captivated audiences and etching her legacy into the Indian music landscape. This distinguished recognition serves as a testament to her unparalleled talent, unwavering dedication, and profound impact on the cinematic realm.
Spotlighting outstanding achievements across diverse 24 categories, the Critics' Choice Awards (CCA) has established itself as a beacon of recognition within the Indian film industry. Embracing the rich tapestry of talent from across the nation, this year’s nominations honour the best and brightest in the industry. The awards transcend language barriers and platform boundaries to emerge as a truly inclusive and diverse voice of cinema. This year's nominations are represented by a powerful collective of 50 esteemed film critics from the Film Critics Guild; and led by luminaries including Anupama Chopra (Chairperson), Stutee Ghosh (Vice Chairperson), and Shomini Sen (Secretary).
Ashwin Padmanabhan, President- Investments, Trading and Partnerships, GroupM - India said "Motion Entertainment has a long-standing reputation as a pioneering force in producing and distributing premium content featuring leading talent. As we unfold the Critics Choice Awards 2024, we celebrate not just the winners and nominees, but also the dedicated artists and entertainers whose passion and creativity breathe life into each frame and platform. Their unwavering commitment to their craft inspires us all. On behalf of GroupM, I extend my warmest congratulations to all the winners and nominees. Their talent and dedication have truly set a standard of excellence for the industry. Here's to an unforgettable celebration and the continued success of all those who contribute to the world of cinema.”
Sharing her excitement over the successful event, Anupama Chopra said, “We are absolutely thrilled to recognise and reward the remarkable winners of the 6th edition of the Critics' Choice Awards. We are proud that the primary objective of the Film Critics Guild - creating an ethical, credible and streamlined set of pan-Indian Awards - is being realized. The filmmakers, creators, performers and technicians across all formats have left an indelible mark on the Indian cinematic landscape with their visionary storytelling. On behalf of the Guild, I congratulate all our winners and nominees for showcasing talent, creativity and ingenuity beyond measure."
Accepting the award for Best Actor in a Feature Film for "12th Fail," Vikrant Massey expressed his heartfelt gratitude, stating, "This is really special; thank you to the critics for considering me. I have the real Manoj Sharma and Shraddha Joshi Ji joining me today, and without them, this wouldn’t have been possible. One person I really want to thank is our director and writer of the film, Vidhu Vinod Chopra Ji. Thank you for being my home and mentor in this labyrinth called Bollywood. And lastly, thank you to the audience. It’s still in theaters because of your love. I feel so blessed. Thanks to each and every critic.”
Upon receiving the award for Best Actress for her role in "Three of Us," Shefali Shah joyfully shared her excitement, stating: “I remember when there was no social media and I had just started my work as an actor. There were just reviews, and I would look forward to seeing my name just to see if I got recognized or mentioned, even for a small part. It felt reassuring and motivated me to continue what I do. The first time I won the critics' award, it was for the strength of a woman, basically a character who was trying to find strength. This is the first time I'm being awarded as I was being lost. We all talk about strength, but there’s just another beauty in vulnerability, and I'm so glad that I got to play this part."
Amidst stiff competition, the jury at Critics' Choice Awards 2024 diligently deliberated over the nominations to recognise, appreciate and celebrate the best in Indian cinema.
Notable winners for the 6th Edition of Critics' Choice Awards 2024
Short film category:
Best Short Film: 'Nocturnal Burger '
Best Director: Reema Maya for 'Nocturnal Burger '
Best Actor: Sanjay Mishra for 'Giddh (The Scavenger)'
Best Actress: Millo Sunka for 'Nocturnal Burger '
Best Writing: Ashok Sankhla and Manish Saini for 'Giddh (The Scavenger) '
Best Cinematography: Jigmet Wangchuk for ‘Last Days of Summer '
Web series category:
Best Web Series: ‘Kohrra’
Best Director: Vikramaditya Motwane for ‘Jubilee’
Best Actor: Suvinder Vicky for ‘Kohrra’
Best Actress: Rajshri Deshpande for ‘Trial by Fire’
Best Supporting Actor: Sidhant Gupta for ‘Jubilee’
Best Supporting Actress: Amruta Subhash for ‘Lust Stories S2: The Mirror’
Best Writing : Gunjit Chopra, Diggi Sisodia and Sudip Sharma for ‘Kohrra’
Feature films category:
Best Feature Film: 12th Fail
Best Director: P. S. Vinothraj for ‘Koozhangal (Pebbles)’
Best Actor: Vikrant Massey for ‘12th Fail’
Best Actress: Shefali Shah for ‘Three of Us’
Best Supporting Actor: Jaideep Ahlawat for ‘Jaane Jaan’
Best Supporting Actress: Deepti Naval for ‘Goldfish’
Best Writing: Devashish Makhija for ‘Joram’
Best Editing: Abhro Banerjee for ‘Joram’
Best Cinematography: Avinash Arun Dhaware for ‘Three of Us’
Special Category:
Gender Sensitivity Award: Fire in the Mountains
Extraordinary Contribution to Cinema Award: Usha Khanna
