Shilpa Rao Shines at 71st National Film Awards: A Tribute to Her Roots
Mumbai: Renowned playback singer Shilpa Rao received the prestigious 71st National Film Award on Tuesday. The accolade was presented to her by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, during a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
Rao was recognized for her outstanding performance in the song ‘Chaleya’ from the blockbuster film Jawan
In her response to the award, Shilpa expressed gratitude, stating, “This achievement is not solely mine. The National Award is for everyone who has supported me, especially my hometown Jamshedpur, which has been my foundation.”
Known for her emotive voice and ability to traverse various musical styles, Shilpa made her entry into the music industry in 2006 and has since produced numerous hit songs. She has also gained international acclaim, including a Grammy nomination as part of the Berklee Indian Ensemble.
Currently, she is enjoying the positive reception of her recent tracks, ‘Ul Jalool Ishq’ from ‘Gustaakh Ishq’ and ‘Ghafoor’ from The B***ds of Bollywood.
During the same event, Prakash Kumar was honored with the Best Music Composer award for his work on the film Vaathi.
The ceremony commenced shortly after the arrival of distinguished guests, including the President, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, and others.
The 71st National Film Awards, which celebrate excellence in Indian cinema for the year 2023, were announced on August 1, 2025, by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The awards ceremony is currently taking place at Vigyan Bhawan, where the President is bestowing the honors.
Organized by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC), the event employs a structured jury system, with regional committees contributing to a central committee led by Ashutosh Gowariker for the Feature Film category. The awards aim to honor the artistic and technical accomplishments of Indian cinema in an unbiased manner, ensuring a formal presentation.