Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal Wins Big at 71st National Film Awards [Image Source: T-series Films, Bhadrakali Pictures]
The best of Indian cinema in 2023 will be honoured at the 71st National Film Awards, which were announced on Friday. Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, was one of the major winners. In the Feature Films category, it took home two major honors: Best Sound Design and Best Background Music. The announcement of the results was made by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a press conference held in New Delhi.
The awards honour films certified by the censor board from January 1 to December 31, 2023. Vanga's Spirit was also given a Special Mention in the Re-Recording Mixer category, with M R Rajakrishnan receiving the Hindi version credit.
Animal wowed juries with its technical skills. Harshavardhan Rameshwar took home the Best Background Music award for his score that defined the film's emotional landscape. Sachin Sudhakaran and Hariharan Muralidharan took home the Best Sound Design award, applauded for their rich and layered sound design.
These successes demonstrate how well the film uses sound to create suspense, mood, and narrative. They bear witness to Vanga's command of images and drama, as well as his mastery of the aural elements that enhance film.
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Vanga's second 2023 film, Spirit, received accolades as well. It was awarded a Special Mention under the category of Re-Recording Mixer. M R Rajakrishnan was recognized for his work in mixing the Hindi-language sound of the movie.
While Spirit did not win a main award, this special mention is a testament to the technical merit of the film.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga keeps creating a niche for himself in Indian cinema. He initially made headlines with the Telugu blockbuster Arjun Reddy back in 2017. He then remade the film in Hindi as Kabir Singh in 2019, which turned out to be a box office hit.
Being recognized for his deeply emotional storylines and provocative direction, Vanga has now gained national credit for his sound sensitivity as well.
The wins for Animal mark a broader shift in how Indian cinema is acknowledging sound design and background scores. For years, these departments remained underappreciated despite their crucial role in storytelling.
By awarding Animal in both categories, the jury has brought focus to the creative and technical minds behind the scenes. The applause is now reaching the sound studio — and rightly so.
