72nd National Film Awards: Veteran actor Anant Nag honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Gujarat: The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony was held in Kevadia (now Ekta Nagar), Gujarat, on Tuesday (September 22).

At the ceremony, veteran actor Anant Nag was honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema.

Actors Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan and Yami Gautam also received awards in various categories.

The National Film Awards for 2024 were presented this year after a two-year delay in the schedule caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Film Awards ceremony held outside Vigyan Bhavan

The first National Film Awards ceremony, held in 1954, took place at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi. Since then, most award ceremonies had been organised there. Except for the 17th edition held in Chennai in 1971, Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi had remained the regular venue for the National Film Awards. This time, however, the ceremony was held in Gujarat.

Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recalls Anant Nag's contribution

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw congratulated the award winners at the ceremony. Praising veteran actor Anant Nag's contribution to the film industry, he said, "Congratulations to all the award winners. Receiving the National Film Award is an honour. Today, Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient Anant Nag is here. You have made an immense contribution to the film industry. It is commendable that you have served the film industry for more than five decades."

Why the ceremony was shifted from Delhi to Ekta Nagar
The minister also explained why the National Film Awards ceremony was shifted from Delhi to Kevadia (Ekta Nagar). He said the decision was taken with the objective of promoting the region as a major tourist destination.

"Our objective is for you to experience the heritage and history of this beautiful place. Next time, we will go to other tourist destinations. I am making a call to the states and Union Territories... tell us what improvements you are making in your regions, and then we will organise the next National Film Awards ceremony at the selected tourist destination," he said.

Responding to critics who described the change of venue as a "political decision", the Information and Broadcasting Minister said, "Think beyond political interests and give 'Nation First' the highest priority."

Anant Nag honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Veteran actor Anant Nag was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema.

Speaking after receiving the award, he said, "I am trying to take in the grandeur of this ceremony. I am very happy to be here with all of you today. As an actor, you have seen the work I have done. You have also watched some glimpses of it. I grew up in an ashram — for the first 12 years of my childhood. I got an opportunity to act in a play in Mumbai."

Recalling his journey as an actor and his association with Karnataka, he said that although he had worked in several languages, he had received the greatest love and respect in Karnataka.

After receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke honour, Anant Nag thanked everyone who had contributed to his career. He said, "This award does not belong to me alone. It belongs to everyone — the producers, directors, co-directors and assistant directors. This award belongs to the millions of people who have given a place to my characters in their hearts and minds for decades."

At the end of his speech, he said, "Before I conclude, I would like to quote Sri Adi Shankaracharya — 'Vande Mataram... This great country is my birthplace; Karnataka is my Karmabhoomi. India is also my Dharmabhoomi.'"

Award details

President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards to the winners.

The Hindi film 'Article 370' won the award for Best Feature Film. Music director Shashwat Sachdev received an award for the background music of the same film.

Telugu blockbusters 'Pushpa: The Rule Part 2' and 'Kalki 2898 AD' won two awards each.
Dhanush received a National Film Award in the Special Mention category for 'Captain Miller'.

Bhushan Kumar received the National Film Award for Best Hindi Film for 'Srikanth'.

Malayalam superstar Mammootty was honoured with the Best Actor (Leading Role) award for 'Bramayugam'. He received a standing ovation at the prestigious ceremony.

Kartik Aaryan received the Best Actor (Leading Role) award for 'Chandu Champion'.
Yami Gautam Dhar received the Best Actress award for 'Article 370'.
'Ram-Nami' wins Best Documentary honour
'Ram-Nami', directed by Bharatbala Ganapathy and produced by Virtual Bharat (BBC Studios), won the Rajat Kamal for Best Documentary at the 72nd National Film Awards.

At the ceremony, noted producer-director Anand L Rai received the award for Best Direction (Non-Feature Film) for 'Statue of Unity - Ekta Ka Prateek'.

Rajkumar Periasamy wins Best Director for 'Amaran'

Filmmaker Rajkumar Periasamy won the Best Director award for 'Amaran' at the 72nd National Film Awards.

Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Director award for 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'.

Actor Sanjay Mishra received the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in the Hindi film 'Bhakshak'.

In the category of Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values, 'Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism' received the award.
The award for Best Kannada Film went to 'Mithya'. Roopashree Varkady received the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in the same film.

'Imbu' emerged as the Best Tulu Film, with director Shivadhwaj receiving the award.
'Feminichi Fathima' won the National Film Award for Best Malayalam Film.

'Raayan' wins Best Tamil Film

Kaveri Kalanidhi received the Best Tamil Film award for 'Raayan', which was written and directed by Dhanush.

Anl Arasu won the Best Action Direction award for the Tamil film 'Maharaja'.

Choreographer Vijay Ganguly received the National Award for Best Choreography for the song 'Aaj Ki Raat' from Stree 2.

Manoj Muntashir won the Best Lyrics award for the song 'Jaane Do' from Maidaan.

G V Prakash Kumar won the National Award for Best Music Direction for 'Amaran'.

Director Sukumar received the National Film Award for Best Original Screenplay for 'Pushpa: The Rule Part 2' (Telugu).

National Film Awards Winners 2026: Feature Categories:

Best Feature Film: Article 370

Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion, Mammootty for Bramayugam

Best Actress: Yami Gautam, Article 370

Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy, Amaran

Best Supporting Actress: Ropashree Varkady for Mithya, Sachana Namidass for Maharaja

Best Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra, Bhakshak

Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD

Best Film Promoting National, Social Values: Captain Miller

Best Child Artist: Riddhiman Banerjee, Tapomoy Deb, Gitashree Chakraborty, Arundev Pothula, Athish S Shetty

Best Cinematography: Bramayugam, Shehnad Jalaal

Best Screenplay: Pushpa 2, Sukumar

Best Dialogue Writer: Lucky Baskhar, Dialogue Writer: Venky Atluri

Best Production Design: Kalki 2898 AD

Best Action Direction: Anl Arasu, Maharaja

Best Make-Up Artist: Committee Kurrollu

Best Costume Design: Pushpa 2; Deepali Noor & Sheetal Sharma

Best Music Direction for Songs: Article 370, Shashwat Sachdev

Best Background Music: GV Prakash, Amaran

Best Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir, Maidaan

Best Male Playback Singer: Abhay Jodhpurkar, Gharat Ganpati from Navasachi Gauri Mazi

Best Female Playback Singer: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi for Angu Vaana Konilu from ARM

Best Choreography: Vijay Ganguly, Stree 2

Best Sound Design: Manas Choudhury, Bhool Bhulaiya 3

Best Editing: R Kalaivannan, Amaran

Best Assamese Film: Juiphool

Best Bengali Film: Chalchitra Ekhon

Best Hindi Film: Srikanth

Best Kannada Film: Mithya

Best Malayalam Film: Feminichi Fathima

Best Marathi Film: Mukkam Post Bombilwadi

Best Odia Film: Lahari

Best Tamil Film: Raayan

Best Garhwali Film: Dholi

Best Telugu Film: Committee Kurrollu

Best Gujarati Film: Maaran

Best Manipuri Film: Sunita

Best Konakani Film: Mog Asum

Best Tulu Film: IMBU

Special Mention - Dhanush for Captain Miller and Suren G for Meiyazhagan.

National Film Awards Winners 2026: Non-Feature Categories:

Best Film Critic - Sanjeev Shrivastava (Hindi)

Best Book on Cinema - Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva Matthu Rajakeeya (I Stand for You, the State Stands for Us: Political and Philosophical Dimensions of Kannada Cinema) by Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty

Special Mention - Bhadra-Kali Natakam (Bhadra - The Dance of Kali) (Malayalam) - Director: Ananda Jyothi (Jose Antony)

Special Mention - Chola Dora aur Sui (Hindi) - Directors: Jaymin Modi & Lokesh Ghai

Best Narrator/Voice Over - Soundarya Jayachandran - Little Planet: A Tale of Frogs (English)

Best Music Direction Shivpal Singh Kang - Parat 41°chya Magavar (On the Trail of 41°) (Marathi)

Best Editing Manvir Jasrotia - NDA (Hindi)

Best Sound Design T S Hari Hara Sudhan - Blue (Tamil)

Best Cinematography Edmond Ranson - Life in Loom (English, Tamil, Hindi, Assamese & Bengali)

Best Direction Aanand L Rai - Statue of Unity - Ekta ka Prateek (Hindi)

Best Short Film (Up to 30 Minutes) - Hamsafar (Marathi) - Producer: Anushka Motion Pictures & Entertainments; Director: Abhijeet Arvind Dalvi

Best Animation Film Touched as Water (Silent) - Producer: JB Productions; Director & Animator: Joshy Benedict

Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism (Hindi, Rajasthani & English) - Producer: Johnsons Suraj Films International; Director: Suraj Kumar

Best Documentary Ram-Nami (Hindi) - Producer: BBP Studio Virtual Bharat Pvt. Ltd.; Director: Bharatbala Ganapathy

Best Arts/Culture Film Main Nida (Hindi) - Producer: Sampreshan Multimedia Pvt. Ltd.; Director: Atul Pandey

Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film Kakori (Hindi) - Producer: KSR Brothers & Minti Mishra; Director: Kamlesh K Mishra

Best Debut Film of a Director - Angen (Invisible) (Santhali) - Director: Ravi Raj Murmu

Best Non-Feature Film - Bhangaar (Obsolete) (Marathi & English) - Producer & Director: Sumira Roy