72nd National Film Awards to Be Held in Gujarat
President Murmu to present awards at Ekta Nagar on September 22
- The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony will be held at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia.
- National Film Awards will now be hosted across different states and cities.
- ‘Article 370’ has been named Best Feature Film.
- Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan and Yami Gautam will receive acting honours.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th Sept: President of India will present the 72nd National Film Awards at Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat, on September 22, 2026. The ceremony will honour outstanding achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024 and bring together filmmakers, actors, technicians and artists from across the country.
Instituted in 1954, the National Film Awards are among India’s most prestigious honours for excellence in cinema. The awards recognise creative and technical achievements across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema, while reflecting the country’s linguistic, cultural and regional diversity.
In a major initiative, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has decided to take the National Film Awards beyond the National Capital, with future ceremonies to be held in different states and cities. The Ekta Nagar ceremony is aimed at reflecting the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.
‘Article 370’ has been selected as the Best Feature Film, while ‘Bhangaar’ has been adjudged Best Non-Feature Film and ‘Ram-Nami’ Best Documentary.
Mammootty for ‘Bramayugam’ and Kartik Aaryan for ‘Chandu Champion’ have been announced as Best Actors in a Leading Role, while Yami Gautam will receive the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for ‘Article 370’. Randeep Hooda will receive the Best Debut Director award for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’.
The awards will also recognise films across several languages and cinematic forms, including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu and Garhwali. ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, ‘Amaran’, ‘Pushpa: The Rule Part-02’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ and ‘Stree 2’ are among the films receiving honours in various categories.
For the first time, a Santhali film will be honoured in the Non-Feature Film section of the National Film Awards.
In the Best Writing on Cinema category, Sanjeev Shrivastava has been announced as the Best Film Critic. The Best Book on Cinema award will be given to Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva matthu Rajakeeya by Dr. Pradeep Kenchanuru, published by Mirror Pusthaka.
