Entertainment
oi-Swastika Sruti
It is one of the biggest proud days as in the 72nd National Film Awards announced on Saturday that honours the best films, actors, directors, songs and technicians from Indian Cinema. The awards honour films certified by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between Jan 1 and December 31, 2024.
The 72nd National Film Awards recognised films from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2024, honouring Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty for Best Actor, Yami Gautam for Best Actress, Kalki: 2898 AD as Best Popular Film, and Srikanth as Best Hindi Film.
Informing that this year’s jury was led by filmmaker – Jayaraj.
Kartik Aaryan, Mammootty and Yami Gautam Win Top Acting Honours
One of the biggest highlights of this year’s awards was the Best Actor category where Kartik Aaryan won for Chandu Champion and Mammootty was honoured for Bramayugam.
On the other hand Yami Gautam won the Best Actress award for her performances in Article 370, while Sanjay Mishra was honoured for the Best Supporting Actor award for Bhakshak. Sachana Namidass won Best Supporting Actress for the Tamil film Maharaja.
72nd National Film Awards 2026 | Yami Gautam wins Best Actress in a Leading Role for the film Article 370.
Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for their films Bramayugam and Chandu Champion respectively. pic.twitter.com/J8kCTP2CGH
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2026
‘Kalki: 2898 AD’, ‘Amaran’ Among the Biggest Winners
Sci-fi blockbuster Kalki: 2898 AD won the award for Best Popular film providing Wholesome Entertainment. The movie also received the best production design award for Nitin Zihani Choudhary.
Not just this, Tamil Film Amaran also won Best Direction for Rajkumar Periasamy, Best Music Direction for G.V. Prakash Kumar, and Best Editing for R. Kalaivannan.
While, Captain Miller, starring Dhanush, received the award for Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values and also earned a Special Mention.
‘Srikanth’ Named Best Hindi Film
The Best Hindi Film award went to Srikanth, starring Rajkummar Rao.
Other regional winners included:
- Best Tamil Film: Raayan
- Best Telugu Film: Committee Kurrollu
- Best Malayalam Film: Feminichi Fathima
- Best Kannada Film: Mithya
- Best Marathi Film: Mukkam Post Bombilwadi
- Best Bengali Film: Chalchitra Ekhon
- Best Assamese Film: Juiphool
- Best Gujarati Film: Maaran
- Best Odia Film: Lahari
- Best Tulu Film: IMBU
- Best Konkani Film: Mog Asum
- Best Manipuri Film: Sunita
- Best Garhwali Film: Dholi
- Major Technical Award Winners
Several technicians were recognised for their outstanding work.
- Best Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir (Jaane Do from Maidaan)
- Best Music Direction (Songs): Shashwat Sachdev (Article 370)
- Best Choreography: Vijay Ganguly (Stree)
- Best Action Direction: Anl Arasu (Maharaja)
- Best Costume Design: Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma (Pushpa: The Rule Part 2)
- Best Makeup: P. Ravi Kumar (Committee Kurrollu)
- Best Screenplay (Dialogue): Venky Atluri (Lucky Bhaskhar)
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Yogesh Deshpande (Swargandharva Sudhi Phadke)
- Best Cinematography: Shehnad Jalal (Bramayugam)
- Best Sound Design: Manas Choudhary (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3)
Non-Feature Films Also Recognised
The National Film Awards also honoured excellence in documentary and non-feature filmmaking.
Some of the notable winners include:
- Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar (Obsolete)
- Best Short Film: Hamsafar
- Best Animation Film: Touched as Water
- Best Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values: Piplantri – A Tale of Eco Feminism
- Best Script: Obur (Clouds)
- Best Narrator: Soundarya Jayachandran for Little Planet: A Tale of Frogs
- Complete List of Major Winners
- Best Popular Film: Kalki: 2898 AD
- Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran)
- Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) and Mammootty (Bramayugam)
- Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)
- Best Hindi Film: Srikanth
- Best Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra (Bhakshak)
- Best Supporting Actress: Sachana Namidass (Maharaja)
- Best Children’s Film: Chinna Katha Kaadu
- Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values: Captain Miller
