National Film Awards
Kartik Aaryan Wins Best Actor at the 72nd National Film Awards
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Key Points
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The 72nd National Film Award winners were selected by an 11-member jury chaired by filmmaker Jayaraj, which reviewed entries from across India before submitting its recommendations to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
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Despite receiving the Best Actor honour, Chandu Champion had opened to mixed reviews and was a commercial failure, earning ₹88.73 crore worldwide after its June 14, 2024 release.
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Kartik Aaryan said the film’s journey was especially meaningful because it inspired people and drew attention to Paralympians, adding that his family and the entire team were “truly, incredibly happy” about the award.
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The ceremony recognised specific category winners beyond the headline honours: Srikanth won Best Hindi Film, Raayan Best Tamil Film, Feminichi Fathima Best Malayalam Film and Committee Kurrollu Best Telugu Film.
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Other announced winners included Rajkumar Periasamy for Best Direction for Amaran, Kalki 2898 AD for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Randeep Hooda for Best Debut Film of a Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, Bhangaar for Best Non-Feature Film and Ram-Nami for Best Documentary.
Kartik Aaryan won his first National Film Award for Best Actor at the 72nd ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, for playing Paralympic champion Murlikant Petkar in Chandu Champion. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award, which Aaryan shared with Malayalam actor Mammootty. The ceremony moved outside New Delhi for the first time, held against the backdrop of the Statue of Unity.
Aaryan visited the Statue of Unity monument before the ceremony, sampling Gujarati cuisine and experiencing local cultural performances with his parents. News18 reported that the actor explored the Ekta Nagar site and engaged with Gujarat's cultural heritage before taking home his prize for a film that, despite critical acclaim for his performance, earned just ₹88.73 crore worldwide.
A Career-Defining Role That Inspired Millions
Chandu Champion tells the story of Murlikant Petkar, an Indian Paralympic athlete who overcame enormous odds to achieve greatness. Aaryan's portrayal resonated deeply enough to earn recognition from an 11-member jury chaired by filmmaker Jayaraj, which reviewed entries across India. The actor said the film's journey was meaningful because it inspired people and drew attention to Paralympians, with his family and team "truly, incredibly happy" about the award.
Box Office Numbers Didn't Match Critical Success
Chandu Champion opened to mixed reviews and underperformed commercially after its June 14, 2024 release. The film earned ₹88.73 crore worldwide, making it a box office disappointment. Yet the jury's recognition shows that awards and commercial success don't always move together — the film's emotional impact and Aaryan's performance spoke louder than ticket sales.
A Ceremony of Historic Firsts Across Multiple Categories
Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370, described by Asianet News as "a great matter of immense pride." Srikanth received Best Hindi Film honors, with producer Bhushan Kumar accepting from President Murmu. Composer G.V. Prakash Kumar also attended to receive his third National Film Award. Rajkumar Periasamy earned Best Direction for Amaran, while Kalki 2898 AD took Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Regional language films received recognition: Raayan won Best Tamil Film, Feminichi Fathima Best Malayalam, and Committee Kurrollu Best Telugu. Anant Nag received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Randeep Hooda won Best Debut Film of a Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, while Bhangaar took Best Non-Feature Film and Ram-Nami won Best Documentary.
Moving The National Awards Ceremony to India's Heartland
The 72nd National Film Awards marked the first time the ceremony was held outside New Delhi. News18 covered Aaryan's pre-ceremony trip, where he sampled traditional Gujarati thepla and watched folk dance performances. Hosting the event at Kevadia near the Statue of Unity symbolized the government's effort to celebrate Indian cinema beyond the capital's usual venues and connect film awards to India's cultural landmarks.
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