Abhay Jodhpurkar Celebrates National Award Win for Best Male Playback Singer: “It Feels Like a Dream”
Singer Abhay Jodhpurkar has achieved a significant milestone in his career by winning the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. He received this prestigious honor for his Marathi song “Navasachi Gauri Mazi” from the film Gharat Ganpati during the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. This year’s event was particularly notable as it marked the first time in over seventy years that the National Film Awards were hosted outside of Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu presented the Rajat Kamal to the winners, making the occasion even more memorable.
Personal Significance of the Award
For Jodhpurkar, this recognition is deeply personal. The song “Navasachi Gauri Mazi” is rooted in the Gauri-Ganpati tradition, a celebration he has cherished with his family throughout his life. Receiving an award for a song in his mother tongue adds another layer of significance to this achievement. “I am still trying to soak in this moment. It is honestly quite overwhelming and still feels like a dream,” he shared. “When I heard the news, I cried, and even now, a few days later, I don’t think I have completely processed it.”
He expressed that standing on stage to receive the National Award for a song so close to his heart was beyond his imagination. “There was a lot of emotion because I felt I wasn’t just receiving an award for a song; I was representing my mother tongue and something that has been such a big part of my upbringing,” he said. The honor, awarded by President Murmu, made the moment even more surreal for him. “It reminded me that dreams really can come true, no matter how far-fetched they may seem,” he added.
A Journey of Hard Work and Resilience
Jodhpurkar’s journey in the music industry has been remarkable. He began his playback career at the age of 21 with A.R. Rahman’s “Moongil Thottam” from Mani Ratnam’s Kadal. Since then, he has lent his voice to numerous projects across various Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and Marathi. His Hindi playback debut came with “Mere Naam Tu” from Zero, composed by Ajay-Atul.
Reflecting on the ceremony in Gujarat, Jodhpurkar noted its personal significance. “Coming to Ekta Nagar to receive the National Award felt like a homecoming with my mom and dad,” he reminisced. He was born in Badwani and grew up near the Narmada River. “To be standing there, receiving one of the biggest honours of my life, with my parents in my heart, was incredibly emotional,” he said. He also acknowledged the honor of being only the third singer after legends Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar to receive this accolade from Niwad, Madhya Pradesh.
Future Aspirations
The National Award adds another chapter to Jodhpurkar’s extensive career, which includes over 300 projects across 16 languages. His Hindi work features songs like “Saare Jag Mein” from Aap Jaisa Koi, “Rasiya (Climax Version)” from Brahmastra, and “Duniya” from Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat. Alongside his Hindi contributions, he continues to work in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bangla, Gujarati, Punjabi, and other regional cinemas.
With the National Film Award now part of his journey, Jodhpurkar aims to explore different musical styles and languages while further developing his craft.
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