National Film Awards Winners
Article 370 and Mammootty Win Big at the 72nd National Film Awards
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Key Points
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Sanjay Mishra won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Bhakshak, while the Best Actress in a Supporting Role award was shared by Sachana Namidass for Maharaja and Ropashree Varkady for Mithya.
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Article 370’s producer and director, Jio Studios, B62 Studios and Aditya Suhas Jambhale, are each entitled to a ₹3 lakh cash prize alongside the Swarna Kamal; Yami Gautam will receive the Rajat Kamal and ₹2 lakh for Best Actress.
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The awards began in 1954 with seven honours for films made the previous year. The inaugural winners included Marathi film Shyamchi Aai for Best All-India Feature Film and Mahabalipuram for Best Documentary Film.
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The National Film Awards expanded to include acting and technical honours in 1967-68, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was introduced in 1969, with Devika Rani as its first recipient.
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The awards were initially established following the recommendation of the Film Enquiry Committee, formed in 1949; administration later moved to the Directorate of Film Festivals and, after its 2022 merger, to the National Film Development Corporation.
India's 72nd National Film Awards were announced July 18, 2026, honoring films certified in 2024. The ceremony will be held September 22 in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat—the first time outside New Delhi—where President Droupadi Murmu will present awards. Article 370 won Best Feature Film, with lead actor Yami Gautam taking Best Actress and the film also recognized for music.
Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared Best Actor for Bramayugam and Chandu Champion. Director Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Director for Amaran, which also earned recognition for G. V. Prakash Kumar's background score. Kalki 2898 AD won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. According to India TV, the awards cover acting, filmmaking, and technical achievements presented by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Supporting Roles and Cash Prize Winners
Sanjay Mishra won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Bhakshak. Sachana Namidass and Ropashree Varkady shared Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Maharaja and Mithya, respectively. Winners receive both awards and cash prizes—producers and directors of Article 370 earn ₹3 lakh alongside the Swarna Kamal trophy, while Yami Gautam receives the Rajat Kamal and ₹2 lakh for Best Actress.
Seven Decades of India's Biggest Film Honors
The National Film Awards began in 1954 with seven honors for films made the previous year. According to India TV, the inaugural winners included Marathi film Shyamchi Aai for Best All-India Feature Film and Mahabalipuram for Best Documentary Film. The awards expanded in 1967-68 to include acting and technical honors. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was introduced in 1969, with Devika Rani as its first recipient.
Moving Awards Across India's Tourist Destinations
For the first time, the National Film Awards ceremony moves outside Delhi to Gujarat's Ekta Nagar. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has called for the awards to rotate among India's major tourist destinations. This shift aims to connect cinema honors with prominent cultural sites and rotate future ceremonies among Indian states, expanding the awards beyond the capital.
From Film Committee to National Development Corporation
The awards were established following recommendations from the Film Enquiry Committee, formed in 1949. According to Dainik Jagran, administration later moved to the Directorate of Film Festivals and, after its 2022 merger, to the National Film Development Corporation. This shift reflects India's evolving approach to film governance and cultural recognition over seven decades.
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