Did you know Rishab Shetty won a National Award long before Kantara for a film about language and identity?

Did you know Rishab Shetty won a National Award long before Kantara for a film about language and identity?

Rishab Shetty won the National Award for Best Actor in 2022 for his phenomenal performance in Kantara. But that wasn’t his first. He had earlier bagged a National Award for Sarkaari Hiriya Praathamika Shaale, Kaasaragodu (2018), a powerful film on language, identity, and cultural pride.

Rishab Shetty’s Sarkaari Hiriya Praathamika Shaale, Kaasaragodu isn’t just a film; it’s a heartfelt tribute to the people who fight to protect their identity, culture, and language against slow erasure. The story unfolds in a small government school on the Karnataka–Kerala border, where the right to learn in one’s mother tongue becomes a symbol of resistance. What makes the film stand apart is how it captures the human cost of such conflicts—the way teachers, students, and entire communities find themselves caught in circumstances far beyond their control, yet still manage to fight with dignity and humour.

Released on August 24, 2018, the film spread through Karnataka like wildfire, marking Rishab Shetty’s signature blend of storytelling: rooted, entertaining, and emotionally sharp. Soon, theatres beyond state borders—from Kerala to Mumbai—were filling up with audiences drawn by word of mouth. The success was no accident. Shetty took a subject that could’ve easily turned into a lecture on linguistic politics and turned it into a lively, emotionally resonant tale about belonging and pride. Even in its most serious moments, the film refuses to preach. Anant Nag’s climactic monologue, for example, lands with conviction but never condescension.

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What keeps it engaging is Shetty’s faith in simplicity. Every scene feels organic—humour flows naturally, and the children’s performances carry genuine warmth. The director resists the temptation to villainize any group. Instead, he builds empathy, showing how every character—whether bureaucrat, teacher, or student—is shaped by the same system they struggle within. That compassion, paired with his knack for visual storytelling, is what made audiences laugh, cry, and cheer.

Before Kantara made him a national phenomenon, Rishab Shetty had already earned a National Award for this film—a recognition of his ability to balance artistry with accessibility. Now, as Kantara: Chapter 1 continues to roar across box offices, many are wondering if history is about to repeat itself. Given his record of turning deeply local stories into universal experiences, a third National Award wouldn’t be surprising. Sarkaari Hiriya Praathamika Shaale, Kaasaragodu remains available for streaming on Sun NXT—a reminder that powerful cinema often begins in the quiet corners of forgotten classrooms.