The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is taking place in Gujarat on September 22, marking a significant change in the event’s traditional venue. Instead of being held at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan, the ceremony is being organised at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, near the Statue of Unity.
President Droupadi Murmu is presenting the awards to the winners at the ceremony. The awards recognise achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024, with 92 winners being honoured across different categories. Veteran actor Anant Nag is also set to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Why Are the National Film Awards Being Held in Gujarat?
The decision to move the National Film Awards ceremony outside Delhi has become one of the major talking points surrounding this year’s event.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the move is part of a broader decision to take future National Film Awards ceremonies to different states and cities across India. The government has described the initiative as an effort to bring the national celebration of Indian cinema beyond the capital and highlight the country’s regional and linguistic diversity.
The 2026 ceremony at Ekta Nagar is therefore being presented as the beginning of this wider approach.
Gujarat Venue Sparks Debate
The change in venue has also led to public debate. Some discussions have focused on why the prestigious ceremony was moved from Delhi to Gujarat and whether the location has any connection with the wider cultural and political significance of the event.
Reports have described the venue change as controversial, while other commentary has focused on the potential benefits for Gujarat’s regional film industry.
The Federal, for instance, reported differing views on whether hosting the National Film Awards in Gujarat could help bring greater attention to Gujarati cinema and filmmakers.
The government, however, has officially framed the move as part of a plan to take the awards to different parts of the country rather than keeping the ceremony permanently centred in New Delhi.
Kartik Aaryan to Receive Best Actor Award
Kartik Aaryan is among the major Bollywood names being honoured at the 72nd National Film Awards. He has been named Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Chandu Champion.
The actor shares the Best Actor honour with Malayalam cinema veteran Mammootty, who has been recognised for his performance in Bramayugam.
The awards recognise films certified during 2024, and the winners were officially announced in July 2026.
For Kartik, the honour marks his first National Film Award and represents an important recognition for his performance as Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in Chandu Champion.
Yami Gautam Wins Best Actress
Yami Gautam is another major Bollywood winner at this year’s National Film Awards. She has been named Best Actress in a Leading Role for Article 370.
The film has also won the Best Feature Film award, making it one of the prominent winners of the 72nd edition.
Article 370 has received three honours overall, including the Best Feature Film award and recognition for background music.
Yami’s recognition adds another major milestone to her career, while the film’s Best Feature Film win places it among the central highlights of this year’s awards.
National Film Awards Honour Films Across Languages
The 72nd National Film Awards are not limited to Hindi cinema. The awards recognise films, filmmakers and technicians working across several Indian languages and cinematic traditions.
The official information from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting highlights recognition for films and talent from languages including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu and Garhwali, among others.
This broader representation is one of the defining features of the National Film Awards, which have been presented since 1954 to recognise achievements across Indian cinema.
Major Films Among This Year’s Winners
Several major commercial and critically recognised films have received honours in different categories.
Kalki 2898 AD, Pushpa: The Rule Part-02, Stree 2, Amaran and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 are among the films receiving recognition at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Amaran director Rajkumar Periasamy has won Best Director, while Randeep Hooda has been recognised with the Best Debut Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
The variety of winners reflects the awards’ coverage of different genres, languages and filmmaking styles.
Anant Nag to Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award
One of the biggest honours of the ceremony will go to veteran actor Anant Nag. He is being presented with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest honour associated with the National Film Awards and is presented for an outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
Anant Nag’s recognition adds a lifetime achievement dimension to this year’s ceremony alongside the competitive awards for films and performances.
A New Direction for the National Film Awards
The Gujarat ceremony represents more than a change in location. The Ministry has announced that future editions of the National Film Awards will be held in different states and cities.
The stated objective is to take the national celebration of cinema beyond the capital and reflect India's regional diversity. The government has described the initiative as part of the broader “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” approach.
Whether the new approach becomes a long-term tradition will become clearer with future editions of the awards.
Kartik Aaryan and Yami Gautam Among the Main Highlights
With Kartik Aaryan sharing the Best Actor honour and Yami Gautam winning Best Actress, Bollywood has a strong presence at the 72nd National Film Awards.
At the same time, the Gujarat venue has added another layer of discussion around the ceremony. While some commentary has questioned or debated the decision to move the event from Delhi, the official position is that the awards will now travel to different parts of the country.
As President Droupadi Murmu presents the honours at Ekta Nagar, the 2026 National Film Awards mark a new chapter in the event’s long history, combining major cinematic achievements with a significant change in how and where the national celebration of Indian cinema is hosted.
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