At the 64th National Film Awards announced in 2017, which Indian film was honoured with the Best Feature Film award?

Introduction / Context:
The National Film Awards are among the most prestigious film honours in India. Every year they recognise the best films produced in the country in various languages and categories. This question checks your awareness of recent award winners, specifically the film that received the Best Feature Film award at the 64th National Film Awards, which were announced in 2017 for films released in the previous year.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The event is the 64th National Film Awards announced in 2017.
We are concerned only with the Best Feature Film category.
The options list four popular Indian films from around that period.
We assume the awards follow the usual practice of honouring cinematic excellence across India.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this general knowledge question, we simply need to recall which film received the Best Feature Film honour at the 64th National Film Awards. The key skill tested is awareness of Indian cinema awards and the ability to differentiate between commercial success and official critical recognition. Often, the film that wins the National Film Award is not the biggest box office hit, but a film that offers strong storytelling, performances and social or emotional depth.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the year and edition mentioned, that is the 64th National Film Awards announced in 2017. Step 2: Recall that these awards covered films released in the previous year in various Indian languages. Step 3: Remember that the Marathi film Kaasav, directed by Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar, received the Best Feature Film award at this edition. Step 4: Compare this memory with the options given and locate Kaasav among them. Step 5: Conclude that Kaasav is the correct answer and the other listed films received different forms of recognition or honours at other events.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to recall that Kaasav is a Marathi film dealing with themes of depression, mental health and human connection. It was widely praised by critics and specifically mentioned in news coverage as the Best Feature Film at the 64th National Film Awards. Dangal and Airlift were major Hindi commercial successes, and Rustom also received awards, but in different categories. This cross check confirms that Kaasav alone fits the description for the Best Feature Film award at that particular edition of the National Film Awards.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Dangal: This film won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, not the Best Feature Film award in that year.
Airlift: Although appreciated by audiences, it did not receive the Best Feature Film award at the 64th National Film Awards.
Rustom: This film was recognised in the acting category at other award functions, but it was not the Best Feature Film at the 64th National Film Awards.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners assume that the most commercially successful or widely talked about film, such as Dangal or Airlift, must have won the top National Film Award. However, the National Film Awards are decided by an expert jury that may prioritise artistic and thematic depth over box office performance. Another common mistake is to confuse awards from different organisations, such as National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, and international festivals, and mix up which film won which honour.

Final Answer:
The film that won the Best Feature Film award at the 64th National Film Awards announced in 2017 is Kaasav.