The prestigious 72nd National Film Awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, September 22, in Ekta Nagar near Kevadia, Gujarat. Departing from its usual venue in Delhi, the gala celebration took place in the vicinity of the iconic Statue of Unity. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards to 92 winners across multiple cinematic categories, celebrating outstanding achievements in Indian cinema before an audience of celebrated filmmakers, actors, and technicians.
Anant Nag Conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
A central milestone of the ceremony was the presentation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2024 to veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag. Recognizing a distinguished cinematic career spanning more than 50 years, the nation honored him with the highest accolade in Indian cinema. The veteran artist had previously been awarded the Padma Shri in 2025 for his enduring contribution to the arts.
Acting Triumphs and Best Feature Film Selections
In the lead acting categories, the Best Actor award was shared by two leading stars. Veteran actor Mammootty received the national honor for his captivating role in the Malayalam movie Bramayugam, while Kartik Aaryan was recognized for his dedicated performance in Chandu Champion.
The Best Actress award was presented to Yami Gautam for her impactful performance in Article 370. She attended the prestigious gathering alongside her husband and director, Aditya Dhar. The film Article 370 also secured selection in the Best Feature Film category. In other language and genre categories, the Rajkummar Rao-starrer Srikanth bagged the National Award for Best Hindi Film, while 35 Chinna Katha Kaadu was chosen as the Best Children's Film. Veteran character actor Sanjay Mishra was honored with the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Bhakshak.
Double Honors for Dhanush and Key Direction Trophies
Filmmaker and actor Dhanush achieved dual recognition at the 72nd edition of the national honors. He won the award for Best Tamil Film for Raayan, and was also conferred a Special Mention award for his work in the historical action feature Captain Miller.
In directorial accolades, Randeep Hooda was awarded the Best Direct Debut trophy for his biographical drama Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, released in 2024. Renowned director Aanand L. Rai was also celebrated in the direction category for helming Statue of Unity Ekta Ka Prateek.
Spontaneous Moment as Industry Icons Volunteer for New Talent
Beyond the formal distribution of trophies, a standout moment unfolded when several prominent artists in the audience raised their hands in unison. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed the gathering with an appeal seeking volunteers among established industry stalwarts to mentor emerging filmmakers and provide platforms for new creative talent. Prominent attendees, including Kartik Aaryan and Aditya Dhar, responded positively by raising their hands to pledge their active support to the initiative.
