From ‘Ankur’ to ‘Malgudi Days’, Anant Nag’s five-decade journey earns Phalke honour

NewsIndia NewsFrom ‘Ankur’ to ‘Malgudi Days’, Anant Nag’s five-decade journey earns Phalke honour From ‘Ankur’ to ‘Malgudi Days’, Anant Nag’s five-decade journey earns Phalke honour NEW DELHI: Veteran actor Anant Nag, whose career spans Kannada cinema, Hindi films and the much-loved television series ‘Malgudi Days’, will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, the government announced on Wednesday, recognising more than five decades of work across languages.The 78-year-old actor will be presented with India’s highest cinema honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22, 2026.

The recognition follows the Padma Bhushan conferred on him in 2025.Announcing the selection, the government said Nag’s cinematic journey had “inspired generations of artists and enriched the cultural landscape of the nation”.

He was chosen on the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee.Nag made his film debut with the Kannada feature ‘Sankalp’ and entered Hindi cinema with ‘Ankur’. Over a career that marked its golden jubilee in 2023, he has appeared in more than 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Marathi.

His television work includes ‘Malgudi Days’, adding another dimension to a career distinguished by its range of characters and languages.Join conversation InsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig Development His honours include five Filmfare Awards and five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards, besides the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award and the state’s lifetime achievement award.

Nag’s public life also extended beyond the screen. He served in the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994 and in the legislative assembly from 1994 to 1999. During his assembly tenure, he held office as minister of state for Bangalore city development.Instituted in 1969, with Devika Rani as its first recipient, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award recognises outstanding contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

It commemorates the filmmaker who directed ‘Raja Harishchandra’, India’s first full-length feature film, in 1913.The award carries a Swarna Kamal medallion, a shawl and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. Get the latest India News and Live updates.

Download the TOI app. Manash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements.

His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.

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