The prestigious 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is taking place on September 22 at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, marking a landmark moment for Indian cinema. For the very first time in the history of the awards, the grand ceremony has moved outside the national capital of New Delhi. Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Statue of Unity, President Droupadi Murmu is conferring the honors upon the distinguished winners across multiple film categories. The awards celebrate cinematic achievements and artistic contributions from films released throughout the year 2024. Commencing at 3:00 PM, the ceremony has brought together leading actors, filmmakers, technicians, and industry luminaries from across the country.
A Historic Shift Beyond New Delhi
Moving the National Film Awards out of the traditional venue in New Delhi to Gujarat represents a symbolic and celebrated departure from convention. Ekta Nagar, nestled beside the monumental Statue of Unity honoring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, provides an inspiring setting to celebrate national creativity and storytelling. The 72nd edition honors exceptional work not only in the feature film segment but also in non-feature categories and specialized technical disciplines. Creative voices from numerous linguistic traditions and regional film hubs are being recognized for their distinct artistic and craft achievements.
For film enthusiasts unable to attend the ceremony in person at Kevadia, comprehensive viewing arrangements were made available online. DD National is broadcasting the entire award ceremony live on its official YouTube channel starting from 3:00 PM. This digital access enables audiences across India and abroad to witness the presentation of the awards and celebrate the triumphs of their favorite cinematic contributors from home.
Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty Share Best Actor Honor
In one of the most prominent highlights of the 72nd National Film Awards, the prestigious Best Actor award was conferred jointly upon two remarkably versatile performers. Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan secured the honor for his compelling transformation in the sports biographical drama Chandu Champion. Sharing the accolade with him is celebrated Malayalam veteran Mammootty, who earned the Best Actor award for his commanding and atmospheric turn in the black-and-white period horror-thriller Bramayugam.
Upon reaching Kevadia on Tuesday to attend the proceedings, Kartik Aaryan toured the Statue of Unity and expressed heartfelt happiness regarding this milestone. Addressing attendees, he emphasized that receiving his first-ever National Film Award for Chandu Champion is an intensely emotional experience for him and his family. He noted that portraying the resilience of real-life Paralympian hero Murlikant Petkar and having that story resonate with millions nationwide remains a deeply gratifying creative journey. The actor extended sincere thanks to the award jury and film audiences across the country for their support.
Article 370 Wins Best Feature Film While Yami Gautam Takes Best Actress
The high-stakes political drama Article 370 emerged as a major victor at the 72nd National Film Awards. Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Article 370 was chosen as the Best Feature Film of the year, recognized for its taut storytelling, research, and cinematic execution of complex real-world events. The production prominently starred Yami Gautam and Priyamani in pivotal roles.
Yami Gautam's commanding performance in the titular drama earned her the coveted Best Actress national award. Her portrayal of an intelligence officer balancing national security imperatives with deep personal determination won critical praise from the jury. Priyamani's key contributions further elevated the film, solidifying Article 370 as one of the standout achievements in contemporary Hindi cinema.
Kalki 2898 AD Wins Popular Entertainment and Rajkumar Periasamy Named Best Director
In the mainstream entertainment bracket, the futuristic sci-fi spectacle Kalki 2898 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin, took home the national award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, the multi-lingual epic successfully wove together Indian mythological lore with ambitious dystopian science fiction.
The prestigious Best Director award was awarded to Rajkumar Periasamy for helming the biographical military drama Amaran. Starring Sivakarthikeyan alongside Sai Pallavi, the film portrays the heroic service and supreme sacrifice of real-life Indian Army officer Major Mukund Varadarajan. Periasamy's balanced direction in capturing both the battlefield realities and the emotional core of the soldier's family life earned him this top directorial recognition.
Dadasaheb Phalke Honor for Anant Nag and Debut Directorial Win for Randeep Hooda
Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag has been conferred with Indian cinema's highest honor, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2024. The accolade pays tribute to his illustrious career spanning more than five decades, during which he enriched regional and national cinema through hundreds of nuanced and memorable performances across genres.
Actor Randeep Hooda arrived in Gujarat via Vadodara Airport to receive his recognition as the Best Debut Director for his historical biographical film Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. In addition to helming the ambitious period project, Hooda undertook the demanding lead role as the revolutionary freedom fighter. Speaking upon arrival in Vadodara, Hooda expressed deep gratitude for his first National Film Award, describing it as an immensely special milestone in his artistic career.
Regional Cinema Triumphs: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam Honors
The 72nd edition underscored the creative vitality across India's regional cinema landscapes with key language-specific feature film awards. In the Hindi film division, the biographical drama Srikanth, based on the inspiring life of visually impaired entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla and starring Rajkummar Rao, claimed the Best Hindi Film award.
In Tamil cinema, the gritty crime action drama Raayan, written, directed by, and starring Dhanush, was honored as the Best Tamil Film. The Malayalam industry saw Feminichi Fathima secure the award for Best Malayalam Film. In the Telugu category, the coming-of-age drama Committee Kurrollu, focusing on rural camaraderie and social dynamics, was awarded Best Telugu Film, rounding out an impressive and varied roster of national winners.
