The 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on 18 July 2026, recognising excellence in Indian cinema for films certified between 1 January and 31 December 2024. The jury was chaired by Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj.
Major Winners
| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | Article 370 | Article 370 |
| Best Director | Rajkumar Periasamy | Amaran |
| Best Actor | Kartik Aaryan | Chandu Champion |
| Best Actor | Mammootty | Bramayugam |
| Best Actress | Yami Gautam | Article 370 |
| Best Supporting Actor | Sanjay Mishra | Bhakshak |
| Best Supporting Actress | Sachana Namidass | Maharaja |
| Best Popular Film | Kalki 2898 AD | Kalki 2898 AD |
| Best Film Promoting National/Social Values | Captain Miller | Captain Miller |
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Swatantrya Veer Savarkar | Swatantrya Veer Savarkar |
| Best Children’s Film | 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu | 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu |
| Best Hindi Film | Srikanth | Srikanth |
Important Technical Awards
- Best Cinematography: Shehnad Jalal – Bramayugam
- Best Original Screenplay: Sukumar – Pushpa 2
- Best Production Design: Nitin Zihani Choudhary – Kalki 2898 AD
- Best Music Direction: Shashwat Sachdev – Article 370
- Best Background Music: G. V. Prakash Kumar – Amaran
- Best Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir – Maidaan
- Best Male Playback Singer: Abhay Jodhpurkar – Gharat Ganpati
- Best Female Playback Singer: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi – ARM
- Best Editing: R. Kalaivannan – Amaran
- Best Sound Design: Manas Choudhury – Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
Best Regional Films
- Assamese: Juiphool
- Bengali: Chalchitra Ekhon
- Kannada: Mithya
- Malayalam: Feminichi Fathima
- Marathi: Mukkam Post Bombilwadi
- Tamil: Raayan
- Telugu: Committee Kurrollu
- Odia: Lahari
- Gujarati: Maaran
- Manipuri: Sunita
- Konkani: Mog Asum
- Tulu: IMBU
Non-Feature Films
Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar
Best Documentary: Ram-Nami
Best Animation Film: Touched as Water
Best Short Film: Hamsafar
Best Art/Culture Film: Main Nida
Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction: Kakori
Best Film Promoting Social & Environmental Values: Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism
Quick Takeaway
The 72nd National Film Awards showcased a strong mix of Hindi and regional cinema, with Article 370 emerging as the Best Feature Film, while Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty shared Best Actor and Yami Gautam won Best Actress. Amaran, Bramayugam, Kalki 2898 AD and Pushpa 2 were among the other notable winners.
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