File Photo: Indian filmmaker Chidananda S Naik (second from left) after winning the La Cinef Award at Cannes 2024.
Chidananda S Naik’s Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Knowwon the Best Script award in the Non-Feature Film competition at the 71st National Film Awards. The Mysuru filmmaker added another to his cap after shining at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024.
For his win at the National Film Awards, Chidananda received a cash prize of Rs 2,00,00. Chidananda’s film, based on a Kannada folktale, had clinched the La Cinef top prize at Cannes in May 2024.
His movie revolves around an elderly woman who steals a rooster and deprives a village of sunlight. “For his evocative use of folklore, weaving the sense of smell as a subtle letimotif to sensitively explore the nuances of belief system,” read the citation of the award. Filmmaker P Sheshadri, member of the jury panel, announced the award on Friday (August 1, 2025).
A doctor-turned filmmaker, Chidananda is a graduate of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). The film, shot entirely at night with limited resources, had also qualified for the Oscars 2025 in the Live Action Short Film category.
ALSO READ: Cannes 2024: Kannada short film ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ to be screened
Meanwhile, Kandeelu – The Ray of Hope won the Best Kannada Film honour. The citation read, “For crafting a moving narrative, rooted in real-life experiences of farmer, and striving against systemic apathy. The film presents a tale of grief, duty and quiet determination.”
The film revolves around Seeba, a poor farmer, who dreams of owning a farm for his family but struggles to make ends meet. He sends his son abroad with the hope of fulfilling his dream but is shattered when his son tragically dies and he can’t bring back his body. Directed by K Yashoda Prakash and produced by Swastik Entertainment, the movie was screened at the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) in 2023.
Published – August 01, 2025 10:11 pm IST
