The 72nd National Film Awards brought together some of the most notable names and films from Indian cinema, celebrating achievements from films certified during 2024. The prestigious ceremony was held on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, marking the first time the National Film Awards ceremony was hosted outside Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards to the winners at the ceremony held near the Statue of Unity.
From Anant Nag receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Article 370 winning Best Feature Film and Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan sharing the Best Actor honour, the 72nd National Film Awards celebrated performances, filmmaking and technical excellence across India's diverse film industries.
Anant Nag Receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award
One of the biggest highlights of the 72nd National Film Awards was the presentation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 to veteran actor Anant Nag. The honour recognised his contribution to Indian cinema over a career spanning more than five decades.
Known for his extensive work, particularly in Kannada cinema, Anant Nag has also appeared across several Indian-language films. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu during the ceremony in Ekta Nagar.
Article 370 Wins Best Feature Film
Article 370 emerged as one of the major winners of the 72nd National Film Awards after being named Best Feature Film. Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, the Hindi film also brought recognition to its lead actress Yami Gautam.
The film's national award recognition made it one of the central highlights of this year's ceremony, with the award acknowledging its place among the notable feature films from the 2024 eligibility year.
Yami Gautam Named Best Actress
Yami Gautam received the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her performance in Article 370. Her win added another major recognition to the film's success at the National Film Awards.
The award placed Gautam among the leading acting honourees of this edition, alongside a diverse group of performers recognised across different categories and Indian film industries.
Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan Share Best Actor Honour
The Best Actor in a Leading Role award was shared by Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion. The joint recognition brought together two performances from very different cinematic settings and genres.
Mammootty's win for Bramayugam and Aaryan's recognition for Chandu Champion were among the most discussed acting honours of the 72nd National Film Awards.
Rajkumar Periasamy Wins Best Director
Tamil filmmaker Rajkumar Periasamy received the Best Director award for Amaran. The film was among the prominent Tamil-language titles recognised at this edition of the National Film Awards.
The recognition further highlighted the strong representation of regional cinema at the awards, which have historically honoured filmmaking across India's many languages and cinematic traditions.
Kalki 2898 AD and Other Popular Films Recognised
The awards also recognised some of the year's major mainstream releases. Kalki 2898 AD received the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, while Pushpa: The Rule Part-02, Stree 2 and Amaran were among the commercially prominent films that received recognition in various categories.
Meanwhile, Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Film of a Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, adding another notable moment to the ceremony.
Celebrating India's Regional and Technical Cinema
Beyond the headline acting and filmmaking awards, the 72nd National Film Awards once again highlighted India's linguistic and cultural diversity. The awards cover feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema, alongside numerous technical and craft categories.
The edition also recognised Bhangaar as Best Non-Feature Film and Ram-Nami as Best Documentary, demonstrating that the National Film Awards extend well beyond mainstream feature cinema.
A New Chapter for the National Film Awards
The 72nd National Film Awards were significant not only because of the winners but also because of the location of the ceremony. Moving the event from Delhi to Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, represented a new direction for the awards. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has indicated that future editions will also be taken to different states and cities, bringing the celebration of Indian cinema to new destinations.
With celebrated veterans, contemporary stars, filmmakers and technicians being honoured across categories, the 72nd National Film Awards 2026 offered a broad representation of Indian cinema. From Anant Nag's lifetime contribution to Yami Gautam's acting honour, the shared Best Actor award for Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan, and Article 370's Best Feature Film win, the ceremony brought together several defining moments from the country's cinematic landscape.
