72nd National Film Awards to Celebrate Indian Cinema in Gujarat
The 72nd National Film Awards will take place on September 22, 2026, in Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat, with the President of India presiding over the prestigious ceremony. This event will unite filmmakers, actors, technicians, and artists from various regions of the country, celebrating the remarkable achievements in Indian cinema from the year 2024.
Established in 1954, the National Film Awards are recognized as the highest honors for excellence in Indian cinema. Over the past seven decades, these awards have celebrated exceptional creative and technical accomplishments across feature films, non-feature films, and cinematic writing, reflecting the rich linguistic, cultural, and regional diversity inherent in Indian filmmaking.
A Shift in Tradition
This year, in a significant policy shift by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the National Film Awards will move beyond the National Capital, marking a new era of inclusivity. By hosting the ceremony in Ekta Nagar, the initiative embodies the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, showcasing cinematic talent from across the nation.
A Celebration of Diversity
The 72nd National Film Awards will honor a wide array of languages, genres, and forms of cinema. Among the notable winners, ‘Article 370’ has been recognized as the Best Feature Film, with ‘Bhangaar’ taking home the title of Best Non-Feature Film. The Jury has also selected ‘Ram-Nami’ as the Best Documentary. The award for Best Actor in a Leading Role has been shared between Mammootty for ‘Bramayugam‘ and Kartik Aaryan for ‘Chandu Champion’, while Yami Gautam will be awarded Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in ‘Article 370’. Additionally, Randeep Hooda is set to receive the Best Debut Director award for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’.
Honoring Regional Cinemas
This year’s awards also reflect excellence across multiple languages and cinematic forms, including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu, and Garhwali. Several anticipated films such as ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, ‘Amaran’, ‘Pushpa: The Rule Part-02’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’, and ‘Stree 2’ will also be recognized in various categories. In a noteworthy milestone, a Santhali film will be honored in the Non-Feature Film section for the first time.
Outstanding Contributions to Cinema
In the Best Writing on Cinema category, Sanjeev Shrivastava has been announced as the Best Film Critic. Furthermore, the Best Book on Cinema award will be given to ‘Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva matthu Rajakeeya’, authored by Dr. Pradeep Kenchanuru and published by Mirror Pusthaka.
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