National Film Awards: Tulu film ‘Imbu’ wins Best Tulu Film, Roopashree Vorkady bags Best Supporting Actress

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 23, 2026: Tulu cinema and artistes from coastal Karnataka received national recognition at the 72nd National Film Awards, with Shivadhwaj Shetty’s ‘Imbu’ winning the Best Tulu Film award and Mangaluru-based actress Roopashree Vorkady receiving the Best Actress in a Supporting Role award for her performance in the Kannada film Mithya.

The awards ceremony was held at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat on Tuesday, September 22, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours. The 72nd National Film Awards recognised films certified during 2024.

‘Imbu’, directed by Shivadhwaj Shetty and produced by Pichchar Studio, was honoured as the Best Tulu Film. The film brings together Tulu culture, the Daiva tradition and contemporary life, with technology and its impact on people forming an important part of the story.

For Shivadhwaj Shetty, the award marks a significant milestone in his nearly two-decade filmmaking journey and brings national attention to Tulu cinema. Imbu had also travelled to international film festivals and received several awards before its National Film Award recognition.

Meanwhile, Roopashree Vorkady won the National Film Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Mithya, directed by Sumanth Bhat. The film also won Best Kannada Film, while young actor Athish S Shetty won the award for Best Child Artist.

Roopashree’s recognition adds another major honour for the coastal Karnataka film community, while Imbu’s win marks a notable national recognition for Tulu-language cinema. The Union government has specifically noted that the National Film Awards recognise cinema in languages beyond those listed in the Eighth Schedule, with Tulu and Garhwali receiving separate honours in the 72nd edition.