ArdorComm Media News Network
September 23, 2026
President Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards at a ceremony held against the backdrop of the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, recognising achievements in Indian cinema for 2024. A total of 92 awardees were honoured across feature film, non-feature film and writing categories.
Veteran actor Anant Nag received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema over more than five decades.
In the feature film categories, Article 370 won the Swarna Kamal for Best Feature Film. Randeep Hooda was honoured with the Best Debut Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, while Nag Ashwin Singireddy’s Kalki 2898 AD was named Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Rajkumar Periasamy received the Best Direction award for the Tamil film Amaran, while the Telugu film 35-Chinna Katha Kaadu won the Best Children’s Film award.
The Best Actor in a Leading Role award was jointly conferred on Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion. Yami Gautam received the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for Article 370. Sanjay Mishra was named Best Supporting Actor for Bhakshak, while the Best Supporting Actress award was shared by Sachana Namidass for Maharaja and Ropashree Varkady for Mithya.
In the non-feature film category, Marathi film Bhangaar won Best Non-Feature Film, while Aanand L Rai received the Best Direction award for Statue of Unity – Ekta ka Prateek. Sanjeev Shrivastava was honoured with the Swarna Kamal for Best Film Critic in the writing-on-cinema category.
For Kartik Aaryan, the award marked his first National Film Award. Expressing his gratitude, the actor described the recognition for Chandu Champion as an important milestone in his artistic journey.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu highlighted the diversity and cultural significance of Indian cinema. She noted that films capture the country’s different languages, traditions and social experiences while creating connections among audiences across regions and presenting India’s cultural heritage to the wider world.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw congratulated the award winners and acknowledged the contribution of technicians, cinematographers and other professionals working behind the scenes. He also recognised Anant Nag’s contribution to Indian cinema spanning more than five decades.
Vaishnaw said the decision to hold the National Film Awards at different tourist destinations was inspired by India’s G20 presidency, during which more than 200 meetings were organised across over 60 cities. He invited states and Union Territories to identify prominent tourist destinations in their respective regions for hosting future editions of the awards.
Source: News on AIR