The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were revealed on 18 July 2026, during a ceremony held at the National Media Centre in New Delhi. The political drama “Article 370” secured the title of Best Feature Film. This year’s edition saw notable accolades being shared among several talented individuals in the film industry.

In a significant recognition, performers Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty were both honoured with the Best Actor award for their roles in “Chandu Champion” and “Bramayugam” respectively. Yami Gautam received the Best Actress award for her performance in “Article 370”. The event also celebrated excellence in supporting roles, with Sanjay Mishra, Ropashree Varkady, and Sachana Namidass being acknowledged for their outstanding performances.

The jury for the awards was led by notable filmmaker Jayaraj, who, along with other members, reviewed entries that were certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between 1 January and 31 December 2024. Other prominent winners included Rajkumar Periasamy, awarded Best Director for “Amaran”, and “Kalki 2898 AD”, recognised for providing wholesome entertainment.

Feature Film Awards and Notable Mentions

A variety of awards were presented in various feature film categories. In addition to the Best Feature Film, categories recognised include Best Hindi Film, awarded to “Srikanth”, and Best Film Promoting National and Social Values, given to “Captain Miller”. Riddhiman Banerjee, Tapomoy Deb, Gitashree Chakraborty, Arundev Pothula, and Athish S Shetty were awarded as Best Child Artists for their contributions to the industry.

Special recognitions were also given for technical excellence, including Best Cinematography for “Bramayugam” awarded to Shehnad Jalaal. Best Screenplay was given to “Pushpa 2” by Sukumar, while the Best Dialogue Writer award went to Lucky Baskhar and Venky Atluri. The Best Action Choreography category saw recognitions, although specific names were not mentioned for this award.

Moreover, music awards highlighted the contributions of artists, with Shashwat Sachdev receiving Best Music Direction for Songs for “Article 370”, and Amaran being recognised for Best Background Score. The award for Best Male Playback Singer was given to Abhay Jodhpurkar for his rendition in “Gharat Ganpati” from “Navasachi Gauri Mazi”. Vaikom Vijayalakshmi took home the Best Female Playback Singer award for her performance in “Angu Vaana Konilu” from ARMB.

Non-Feature Film Awards and Special Mentions

The non-feature section also celebrated numerous achievements. Sanjeev Shrivastava was declared Best Film Critic for Hindi cinema, while notable works like “Naaniruvude Nimagaagi” received the Best Book on Cinema award. The Best Documentary award went to “Ram-Nami”, produced by BBP Studio Virtual Bharat Pvt. Ltd.

In the arena of animation films, “Touched as Water” was recognised, with accolades also given for Best Editing and Best Sound Design, with noted contributions from various artists. Special Mention awards were distributed across multiple categories, acknowledging outstanding efforts in both feature and non-feature film domains.

The ceremony not only recognised artistic and technical achievements but also underscored the evolving landscape of Indian cinema. The 72nd National Film Awards celebrated the diversity and creative spirit present in the filmmaking community, highlighting the vital contributions made by various artists across genres and languages.

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