# 72nd National Film Awards in Ekta Nagar: President Murmu Honors 92 Winners as Cinematic Icons Gather in Gujarat

> President Droupadi Murmu conferred the 72nd National Film Awards across 92 categories near the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. Top honors went to Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam, and Dhanush, while veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Entertainment · **Published:** 2026-09-22 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/entertainment/72ven-rashtriya-philma-puraskara-samaroha-men-rashtrapati-ne-92-vijetaon-ko-kiya-sammanita-gujarat-ke-ekta-nagar-men-jute-sinemai--36719 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** National Film Awards, Kartik Aaryan, Mammootty, Yami Gautam, Dhanush, Anant Nag, Statue of Unity, Droupadi Murmu

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.

## What this means for you
The 72nd National Film Awards highlight a diverse blend of regional and mainstream accomplishments, guiding audience viewing preferences across Indian cinema.

- **For Cinema Enthusiasts:** Recognized titles such as _Bramayugam_, _Chandu Champion_, and _Article 370_ are likely to see renewed viewership spikes on streaming platforms. Audiences can look out for re-releases and catalog promotions on digital networks.
- **Support for Regional Storytelling:** Prominent wins for diverse language films encourage mainstream audiences to explore cinema beyond traditional linguistic boundaries. Viewers can discover celebrated regional narratives like _Raayan_ and _35 Chinna Katha Kaadu_.
- **Opportunities for Aspiring Talent:** The public call by the leadership for established creators to mentor emerging artists points toward expanded industry access. Aspiring writers and filmmakers can watch for upcoming incubation and mentorship programs.
- **Focus on Cultural Tourism in Gujarat:** Hosting the national ceremony at Ekta Nagar near the Statue of Unity boosts the region's prominence as a premier destination for major arts and cultural gatherings.

## Why this happened
The 72nd National Film Awards were held to maintain the longstanding state tradition of formally honoring cinematic merit and technical artistry across all Indian languages, organized this year at Ekta Nagar near the Statue of Unity.

- **Formal Recognition of Cinematic Merit:** The annual awards recognized 92 winners across acting, direction, and regional language categories following an official evaluation of qualifying cinematic works.
- **Acknowledging Lifetime Dedication:** Kannada cinema veteran Anant Nag was selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to honor a prolific career spanning over 50 years, continuing the practice of celebrating lifetime artistic contributions.
- **Fostering Future Filmmaking Talent:** The public request by government leadership inviting established stars to volunteer was aimed at building direct mentorship channels for aspiring creators across the country.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where took place the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony?
The awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, September 22, at Ekta Nagar near the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat.

### 2. Who won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at this ceremony?
Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 in recognition of his 50-plus years of cinematic contribution.

### 3. Who won the Best Actor and Best Actress national awards?
Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) shared Best Actor, while Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370.

### 4. Which honors did Dhanush receive at the event?
Dhanush received two national honors: Best Tamil Film for 'Raayan' and a Special Mention award for 'Captain Miller'.

### 5. Why did Kartik Aaryan and Aditya Dhar raise their hands during the function?
They raised their hands to volunteer after Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw appealed to industry veterans to support and mentor new emerging talent.

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