The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting officially announced the highly anticipated 72nd National Film Awards in New Delhi. Celebrating the absolute pinnacle of Indian cinema, this year’s prestigious awards honored the films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024.
Chaired by the acclaimed filmmaker Jayaraj, the 11-member national jury filtered through hundreds of competitive submissions across multiple languages, cementing the 72nd National Film Awards winners in the history books.
The extensive 72nd National Film Awards winners list represents a grand celebration of cinematic excellence, highlighting an unprecedented balance between massive box-office blockbusters and hard-hitting independent cinema. From the high-stakes political drama of Article 370 to the spine-chilling artistic mastery of Bramayugam, Indian cinema showcased its diverse narrative strength.
The political thriller Article 370 turned out to be the biggest champion of the event, walking away with the coveted Best Feature Film award. The film’s leading lady, Yami Gautam, secured the prestigious Best Actress title for her deeply intense, stellar portrayal of an intelligence officer.
In a historic move, the Best Actor trophy was shared by two stalwarts from completely different cinematic universes. Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan won his first-ever National Award for his grueling physical transformation and emotional performance in the sports biopic Chandu Champion. He shared the honor with the legendary Malayalam megastar Mammootty, who stunned critics worldwide with his terrifyingly brilliant performance in the monochrome horror-masterpiece Bramayugam.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Rajkumar Periasamy was rightfully named Best Director for helming the emotional and patriotic biographical war drama Amaran. On the commercial front, Nag Ashwin's futuristic sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD took home the crown for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Below is the complete, officially verified 72nd National Film Awards full winners list across all major technical, acting, and writing categories.
The regional distribution of awards highlights the sheer power of South Indian cinema, alongside phenomenal entries from the East and West.
The non-feature film segment featured 161 intensely competitive submissions. These films captured raw real-world stories, cultural history, and deep social messages.
Award CategoryWinner NameWinning WorkBest Non-Fiction FilmJurors' SelectionBhangarBest DirectionAanand L RaiStatue of UnityBest Short FilmIndependent ProductionHamsafarBest Documentary FilmIndependent ProductionRam-NamiBest Animation FilmCreative StudioTouched as WaterBest ScriptFaraz AliFaraz AliBest Voiceover / NarrationSoundarya JayachandranLittle FrogsBest Music DirectionShivpal Singh KangOn the Trail of 41Best CinematographyEdmond RansonLife in LoomBest Sound DesignHari Hara SudhanBlueBest Social/Environmental FilmEnvironmental JuryPiplantriBest Art/Culture FilmCultural JuryMain NidaBest Biographical/Historical ReconstructionHistorical PanelKakoriBest Debut Film of a DirectorIndependent DirectorAngenArticle 370 didn't just win over the jury; it completely dominated the political drama landscape. By winning Best Feature Film and getting Yami Gautam her historic Best Actress title, the film solidified its status as a masterclass in modern storytelling. 72nd National Film Awards Winners 2026, It managed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats while handling sensitive, real-world events with immense narrative discipline.
The Best Actor tie perfectly encapsulates the beautiful diversity of the 72nd National Film Awards.
Whether it was the massive scale of Kalki 2898 AD winning Production Design or the adrenaline-pumping world of Pushpa 2 taking home Costume Design and Original Screenplay, South Indian cinema proved once again that its technical and visual ambition is unmatched.
The 72nd National Film Awards successfully brought the entire country together under the umbrella of creative storytelling. By honoring everything from intense independent regional blockbusters to big-budget cinematic marvels, the event proved that the Indian film industry is currently experiencing its golden age of experimental and diverse content.