Archive · 23 Sep 2026
72nd National Film Awards honor Anant Nag and Mammootty
The 72nd National Film Awards celebrated achievements in Indian cinema.
The ceremony took place in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, instead of Delhi.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards.
Veteran actor Anant Nag received India’s highest cinema honor, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Mammootty won Best Actor for the fourth time, matching Amitabh Bachchan’s record.
Kartik Aaryan also won Best Actor for Chandu Champion.
Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370.
Article 370 was also named Best Feature Film.
The event brought many Indian film artists together to celebrate their work.
Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for contributions to Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema.
Mammootty won his fourth Best Actor National Film Award, tying Amitabh Bachchan’s record.
Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370, which also received Best Feature Film.
Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Director for Amaran, while Kartik Aaryan also received a Best Actor award for Chandu Champion.
The ceremony was held at Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar, marking the first time the National Film Awards were presented outside Delhi.
- Who
- President Droupadi Murmu presented awards to Anant Nag, Mammootty, Yami Gautam, Kartik Aaryan and other film professionals.
- What
- The 72nd National Film Awards recognized achievements in Indian cinema, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Anant Nag.
- When
- The articles identify the event as the 72nd National Film Awards and say the awards recognized excellence in 2024; no ceremony date is provided.
- Where
- Ekta Nagar in Gujarat’s Narmada district, marking the first National Film Awards ceremony held outside Delhi.
- Why
- The awards were presented to honor excellence and achievements in Indian cinema.
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- Anant Nag received the award for his contributions to Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema.
- Best Actor
- Mammootty won for the fourth time and tied Amitabh Bachchan’s record; Kartik Aaryan also received the award for Chandu Champion.
- Best Actress
- Yami Gautam won for Article 370.
- Best Feature Film
- Article 370 won the award.
- Best Director
- Rajkumar Periasamy won for Amaran.
- Ceremony location
- Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, hosted the event, the first National Film Awards ceremony held outside Delhi.
- Category clarification
- The supplied headline groups Yami Gautam with Best Actor award recipients, while the article body identifies her award as Best Actress.