In a remarkable achievement for Tamil cinema, Parking, a gripping urban drama directed by debutant Ramkumar Balakrishnan, clinched three prestigious awards at the 71st National Film Awards:
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Best Tamil Film
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Best Screenplay (Ramkumar Balakrishnan)
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Best Supporting Actor (M.S. Bhaskar)
The announcements were made during a formal press conference held at the National Media Centre in New Delhi.
Produced by Sudhan Sundaram and K.S. Sinish under Passion Studios and Soldiers Factory, Parking stars Harish Kalyan, M.S. Bhaskar, and Indhuja Ravichandran in lead roles. The story delves into a deceptively simple conflict between a young IT professional and a panchayat officer over a parking space, slowly evolving into a high-tension psychological drama that mirrors urban ego clashes and class anxieties.
The jury’s citation for Best Screenplay praised the film for “crafting a taut, layered screenplay that escalates a trivial domestic issue into a tense psychological drama that exposes the fragility of the urban setting.”
M.S. Bhaskar’s National Honour
Veteran actor M.S. Bhaskar, whose nuanced performance in Parking has earned him his first National Award for Best Supporting Actor, shared the honour with Malayalam actor Vijayaraghavan for Pookkaalam. Reacting to the win, Bhaskar humbly stated:
“I thank director Ramkumar Balakrishnan and the producers for giving me this opportunity. The film’s theme shows how a trivial matter can explode due to human ego—a truth many can relate to.”
Bhaskar’s layered portrayal of Ilamparuthi, a retired government official locked in a territorial feud with his neighbour, was widely appreciated for its emotional depth and restraint.
A Film That Found a Global Audience
Beyond the accolades in India, Parking had earlier achieved international recognition when its screenplay was officially selected for the permanent core collection of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)—the very institution that oversees the Oscars.
Producer K.S. Sinish had posted a screenshot of the Academy’s email, expressing delight:
“Really we don’t know how big of a moment this is! But so delighted to receive this mail from The Academy and honoured to have the screenplay of our Parking alongside many of the greatest works at the scripts library of the #Oscars.”
This rare honour places Parking in an elite circle of Indian films that have found archival space in Hollywood’s most revered cinematic institution, providing students, writers, and filmmakers access to study its screenplay.
More Wins for Tamil Cinema
In addition to Parking, composer G.V. Prakash Kumar also won the Best Music Director (Songs) award for his work in Vaathi, adding another feather in the cap for Tamil cinema at the National Awards.
Streaming Now
Parking is currently streaming on JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, continuing to draw praise from audiences for its smart writing, grounded performances, and timely urban themes.
A Momentous Day for Tamil Cinema
The triumph of Parking at the National Film Awards not only marks a stellar debut for director Ramkumar Balakrishnan but also shines a spotlight on the evolving narrative sophistication of Tamil cinema—where even the most mundane urban struggles are rendered with insight and emotional depth.
With three National Awards and an Oscar-recognised screenplay, Parking has firmly parked itself in the history books.
