Singer Abhay Jodhpurkar has won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. He received the honour for his Marathi song "Navasachi Gauri Mazi" from the film Gharat Ganpati. The award was given at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony, held at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat. President Droupadi Murmu presented the Rajat Kamal to this year's winners.
Reacting to the win, Jodhpurkar said, "It feels like a dream."
Why This National Award Win Matters for Abhay Jodhpurkar
For Jodhpurkar, this recognition carries personal meaning. The song "Navasachi Gauri Mazi" is rooted in the Gauri-Ganpati tradition that he grew up celebrating with his family. Winning for a song tied to a tradition he has known since childhood makes the award more than just a professional achievement.
The win also stands out because the song is in Marathi, his mother tongue. Receiving a National Film Award for a song in his own language adds another layer to the achievement.
A Ceremony Held Outside Delhi for the First Time
The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony was held at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. This marked the first time in more than seven decades that the ceremony took place outside Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu presented the Rajat Kamal to the winners at the event.
Our Take: A Win That Goes Beyond One Song
In our view, this award is a strong signal for regional language music. Abhay Jodhpurkar won for a Marathi song rooted in a family tradition — not for a big-budget Hindi film track. That says something important. Talent in regional cinema and music can stand on its own at the national level.
To put it plainly, this win matters for two reasons. First, it honours a singer whose work is deeply personal and culturally grounded. Second, it puts Marathi music in the national spotlight. For readers who follow Indian music, this is a reminder that the country's best playback work is not limited to one language or one industry.
The fact that the ceremony itself moved outside Delhi for the first time in over seven decades also fits this theme. The National Film Awards are slowly opening up to the whole country, not just the capital. That is a welcome change.
For Jodhpurkar, the feeling is simple — it feels like a dream. For the rest of us, it is a clear example of how personal roots and professional excellence can come together in one award-winning song.
