Archive · 23 Sep 2026
72nd National Film Awards Bring Big Honours and Emotions
The 72nd National Film Awards honoured films and artists for work released in 2024.
Kalki 2898 AD won two awards.
Kartik Aaryan won Best Actor for playing Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in Chandu Champion.
Yami Gautham also received a Best Actor award for Article 370.
Niharika Konidela accepted an award for Committee Kurrollu.
Dhanush celebrated his two honours with his sons and thanked his fans.
President Droupadi Murmu praised artists but asked them not to promote unhealthy products.
She said famous people can strongly influence children and young people.
Kalki 2898 AD won two National Film Awards, including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Kartik Aaryan won Best Actor for Chandu Champion and dedicated the honour to India’s Paralympians.
Yami Gautham received Best Actor recognition for Article 370 after a 14-year journey in cinema.
Niharika Konidela accepted the Rajat Kamal for Best Telugu Film for Committee Kurrollu.
President Droupadi Murmu urged film artists not to endorse products harmful to public health.
- Who
- Film artists and filmmakers including Priyanka Dutt, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautham, Dhanush and Niharika Konidela were among those honoured; President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards.
- What
- The 72nd National Film Awards for 2024 recognised films and artists, while the President urged celebrities not to endorse products harmful to health.
- When
- The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday; the awards were for films from 2024.
- Where
- The ceremony was held at Ekta Nagar, near the Statue of Unity.
- Why
- The awards recognised achievements in Indian cinema, while the President used the event to highlight celebrities’ influence on public health and young people.
Artists’ Achievements
Public-Health Responsibility
Role of film celebrities
Artists’ Achievements
The award recipients and producers focused on creativity, perseverance, personal journeys and gratitude toward audiences, collaborators and fans.
Public-Health Responsibility
President Droupadi Murmu said celebrities’ words and actions influence young people and urged them not to promote products harmful to health.
Commercial endorsements
Artists’ Achievements
The ceremony highlighted the public visibility and influence that successful film artists have earned through their work.
Public-Health Responsibility
Murmu argued that a true star should spread light rather than darkness, in the context of concerns about celebrity associations with pan-masala advertising.
- Awards ceremony
- 72nd National Film Awards for 2024
- Venue
- Ekta Nagar, near the Statue of Unity
- Kalki 2898 AD
- Won two National Film Awards, including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
- Best Actor
- Kartik Aaryan won for Chandu Champion, while Yami Gautham was honoured for Article 370
- Best Telugu Film
- Committee Kurrollu received the Rajat Kamal
- Presidential message
- Droupadi Murmu urged artists not to endorse products harmful to people’s health
- Public-health context
- Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff recently received show-cause notices from the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration over a Vimal Elaichi advertisement