The spotlight is firmly on Indian cinema as the 72nd National Film Awards take place on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat. The ceremony celebrates achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024 and brings together some of the country's biggest actors, filmmakers and technicians.
One of the biggest moments of the ceremony is the presentation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 to veteran actor Anant Nag, recognising his contribution to Indian cinema over a career spanning more than five decades.
Anant Nag to Receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag is being honoured with India's highest cinema-related lifetime achievement award, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Nag began his acting career in the early 1970s and has worked across multiple Indian languages. According to the Press Information Bureau, his filmography includes more than 300 films across six languages, along with his memorable work in television, including Malgudi Days.
The award recognises a cinematic journey of more than five decades and his contribution to the development of Indian cinema.
Article 370 Wins Best Feature Film
One of the major highlights of this year's National Film Awards is Article 370, which has been named Best Feature Film.
The film also earned Yami Gautam the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her performance. The recognition makes the film one of the most prominent winners of the 72nd edition.
The film was directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale and produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, according to the official award listing.
Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty Share Best Actor Honour
The Best Actor in a Leading Role category has resulted in a tie.
Kartik Aaryan has been recognised for his performance in Chandu Champion, while Malayalam superstar Mammootty receives the honour for Bramayugam.
Both actors share the National Award in the category for the 2024 edition.
For Aaryan, the award comes for his portrayal in Chandu Champion, while Mammootty is recognised for his performance in the Malayalam film Bramayugam.
Amaran Wins Best Direction
Tamil cinema also features prominently at this year's awards.
Rajkumar Periasamy has won the Best Direction award for Amaran. The Tamil film is among the major regional-language films recognised at the 72nd National Film Awards.
The awards continue to highlight films from across India's diverse regional industries, rather than focusing exclusively on Hindi cinema.
Randeep Hooda Wins for Directorial Debut
Actor Randeep Hooda has also earned recognition behind the camera.
His directorial debut, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, has won the award for Best Debut Film of a Director.
The honour marks an important milestone in Hooda's transition from acting to filmmaking.
Kalki 2898 AD Gets a Major Honour
Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD has been named Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
The Telugu-language science-fiction epic was among the major commercial films recognised by the National Film Awards jury.
The film's recognition also reflects the increasing presence of large-scale South Indian productions at national-level cinema awards.
Other Major National Film Awards Winners
Several other notable films and artists have also been recognised in different categories.
Some of the key honours include:
- Best Feature Film: Article 370
- Best Direction: Rajkumar Periasamy for Amaran
- Best Actor: Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion
- Best Actress: Yami Gautam for Article 370
- Best Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra for Bhakshak
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD
- Best Debut Film of a Director: Randeep Hooda for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
- Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar
- Best Documentary: Ram-Nami
Films including Pushpa: The Rule Part-02, Stree 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Amaran have also received honours across various categories.
A National Film Awards Ceremony Beyond Delhi
This year's ceremony is significant not only because of the winners but also because of its location.
For the first time in this new phase of the awards, the ceremony is being held at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, rather than New Delhi. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced plans to take future National Film Awards ceremonies to different parts of the country.
The move places India's diverse regional film cultures closer to the centre of the national awards celebration.
Why the 72nd National Film Awards Matter
The National Film Awards were instituted in 1954 and recognise creative and technical achievements across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema.
The 72nd edition honours films certified during 2024, with winners announced in July 2026 and the formal ceremony taking place on September 22.
This year's winners represent a wide range of Indian cinema, from Hindi and Tamil films to Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and other regional-language productions.
The Big Takeaway
The 72nd National Film Awards bring together several major moments for Indian cinema: Anant Nag's Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Article 370's Best Feature Film win, Yami Gautam's acting honour, the shared Best Actor award for Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan, and Rajkumar Periasamy's recognition for Amaran.
With established veterans, contemporary stars, regional filmmakers and blockbuster productions all receiving recognition, the 2026 ceremony showcases the breadth of India's film industry.
Stay tuned to Flixbuzz India for more updates from the world of Bollywood, South Indian cinema, OTT and entertainment.
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