The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony was held on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, bringing together leading names from across Indian cinema. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards and honoured actors, filmmakers, musicians and other members of the film industry for their work connected to the 2024 film eligibility cycle.
The ceremony featured several major honours, with veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty shared the Best Actor in a Leading Role award, while Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370.
Anant Nag Receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award
One of the biggest moments of the 72nd National Film Awards was the presentation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Anant Nag.
The veteran actor was recognised for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema over a career spanning more than five decades. Anant Nag has worked extensively in Kannada cinema and has also appeared in films across other Indian languages.
Receiving the honour, Anant Nag expressed gratitude for the recognition and spoke about his journey as an actor. His Dadasaheb Phalke Award marked one of the most significant moments of the ceremony.
Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty Share Best Actor Honour
The Best Actor in a Leading Role award was shared by Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty.
Kartik Aaryan was recognised for his performance as Murlikant Petkar in Chandu Champion. The film follows the inspiring journey of India's first Paralympic gold medallist and required Aaryan to undergo extensive physical preparation for the role.
Mammootty received the same honour for his performance as Kodumon Potti in the Malayalam psychological horror film Bramayugam.
The joint recognition marked another National Film Award milestone for Mammootty, while it became an important achievement in Kartik Aaryan's career.
Yami Gautam Wins Best Actress for Article 370
Yami Gautam received the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her performance in Article 370.
The film, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, centres on events surrounding the abrogation of Article 370 and features Yami in the role of an intelligence officer.
Her win added to the film's strong showing at the 72nd National Film Awards. Article 370 was also named Best Feature Film, while Shashwat Sachdev received an award for the film's background music.
Article 370 Wins Best Feature Film
Article 370 emerged as one of the biggest winners of the awards.
The film received the Best Feature Film honour, while Yami Gautam was recognised in the acting category and Shashwat Sachdev won for Best Background Music.
The multiple honours made Article 370 a prominent part of the 72nd National Film Awards, with the film receiving recognition across acting, music and the main feature-film category.
Rajkumar Periasamy Wins Best Director
The Best Director award went to Rajkumar Periasamy for Amaran.
Starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi, the Tamil-language film is based on the life of Major Mukund Varadarajan and his service in the Indian Army.
The recognition added another major honour to Amaran, which also received the Best Music Direction award for composer G.V. Prakash Kumar.
Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD Also Get Major Recognition
Popular Telugu cinema also had a strong presence at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Pushpa: The Rule Part 2 received the Best Original Screenplay award for director Sukumar, while Kalki 2898 AD was recognised as the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Both films had already become major commercial releases, and their National Film Award recognition added another dimension to their 2024 achievements.
Kalki 2898 AD also received another honour, while Pushpa: The Rule Part 2 was among the films to secure multiple awards.
Sanjay Mishra Wins Supporting Actor Award
Sanjay Mishra received the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award for Bhakshak.
The film, directed by Pulkit, focuses on a journalist investigating serious abuse at a shelter home. Mishra's recognition added to the acting honours presented during the ceremony.
In the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category, Sachana Namidass for Maharaja and Ropashree Varkady for Mithya shared the award.
Randeep Hooda Honoured for Directorial Debut
Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Film of a Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
The film, which also stars Hooda in the lead role, marked his debut as a director. His recognition at the National Film Awards therefore represented an achievement on both sides of his filmmaking career.
The award was among the notable honours presented in the feature-film section.
National Film Awards Highlight Regional Cinema
The ceremony also showcased the diversity of Indian cinema beyond Hindi and mainstream commercial films.
The awards recognised films in multiple Indian languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Garhwali, Tulu and Santhali.
Dholi received the Best Garhwali Film award, while IMBU was recognised as the Best Tulu Film. Angen, a Santhali film, received the Best Debut Film of a Director award.
The recognition demonstrated the broad scope of the National Film Awards and their focus on cinema from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Why Are 2024 Films Winning Awards in 2026?
The 72nd National Film Awards are for the 2024 eligibility year, which explains why films released two years earlier are receiving their honours in 2026.
The winners were selected from films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification between January 1 and December 31, 2024. The award process was delayed, with the pandemic contributing to the disruption in the usual schedule.
As a result, films such as Article 370, Chandu Champion, Bramayugam, Amaran and Kalki 2898 AD are being formally honoured in 2026 despite belonging to the 2024 film cycle.
A New Venue for the 72nd National Film Awards
The 2026 ceremony also marked a change in the traditional venue of the National Film Awards.
The event was held at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, rather than New Delhi. The government has indicated that future editions of the ceremony are also expected to be hosted in different cities, taking the event beyond the national capital.
The move was presented as part of an effort to showcase India's cultural diversity and connect the awards with different parts of the country.
A Major Night for Indian Cinema
The 72nd National Film Awards brought together veteran performers, contemporary stars, filmmakers and technicians from across the country.
Anant Nag's Dadasaheb Phalke honour stood out as a lifetime recognition, while the shared Best Actor award for Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty and Yami Gautam's Best Actress win became major acting highlights.
With Article 370 taking Best Feature Film and films such as Amaran, Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD receiving significant recognition, the ceremony reflected the range of Indian cinema represented in the 2024 award cycle.
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