Yogesh Deshpande wins National Award for Best Screenplay for 'Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke'

Director and screenwriter Yogesh Deshpande has been honoured in the Best Screenplay (Adapted) category at the 72nd National Film Awards. The award was given for the script of his film "Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke", a biopic on the life and work of the noted composer Sudhir Phadke. The award ceremony was held at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, where President of India Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Yogesh Deshpande.

The award marks a major milestone in Yogesh's filmmaking journey. He had taken on the task of writing the script of this musical biopic himself, and has now been honoured for that same work.

Speaking about the award, Yogesh Deshpande said, "Receiving the National Film Award for Best Screenplay is an honour that is difficult to put into words. 'Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke' was a journey that meant a great deal to me. Telling the story of a great artist like Sudhir Phadke was a huge responsibility and an equally huge creative opportunity. This award is a recognition of the collective effort behind the film and of the power of stories rooted in our culture and artistic heritage. I am deeply grateful to everyone who entrusted me with the responsibility of this story and stood by me through its journey."

Before reaching this national award, Yogesh's journey has been built on more than two decades of work in advertising and the film industry. After starting his career in advertising in 2000, he wrote and directed more than 100 ad films, gaining considerable experience in visual storytelling and brand communication. He is also the founder of the Pune-based production company RedefineZ Productions. His entry into feature filmmaking came with the film "66 Sadashiv", after which he took on the ambitious musical biopic "Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke".

The authenticity of the film's music was particularly noted. It featured original songs recorded in the voices of legendary singers including Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Sudhir Phadke and Kishore Kumar. The film was released in five countries and received international recognition along with critical acclaim.

Yogesh has received this National Film Award at a key turning point in his career, as he is currently preparing his upcoming Marathi directorial film "Thumbz Up". The film is currently in the pre-production stage and is set against the natural backdrop of the Konkan region. It portrays the human impact of the digital divide through a strong female character. The project brings together a story rooted in cultural identity, contemporary themes and an emphasis on human emotion, marking the next stage in Yogesh's creative journey.

With this National Film Award for Best Screenplay, Yogesh's journey from advertising to the film industry has reached a major national milestone. As a director who has consistently prioritised stories connecting cultural identity with contemporary audiences, his creative voice has been further strengthened by this award.