72nd National Film Awards LIVE | Indian cinema's top films, artists receive recognition
The awards recognise excellence across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema, celebrating achievements across India's diverse film industries
Yami Gautam wins 'Best Actress in a Leading Role' for 'Article 370'; Kartik Aaryan earns his debut National Film Award for 'Chandu Champion'
Updated - July 18, 2026 07:00 pm IST
Mammootty in ‘Bramayugam’. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on Saturday (July 18, 2026), with the winners recognising excellence in feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema across Indian languages. The awards honour films that received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year.
The announcement was streamed live by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting through its official digital platforms.
The acclaimed Tamil slice-of-life drama ‘Meiyazhagan’ gets a special mention for sound mixing. Mammootty bags his fourth National Award for his performance in ‘Bramayugam’, in which the veteran star plays a terrifying, tyrannical landlord who traps travellers in his power-obsessed mind games. Yami Gautam won the Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the action-thriller Article 370.
Kartik Aaryan won his debut National Film Award for his performance in Kabir Khan’s biographical sports-drama, Chandu Champion.
Follow for LIVE updates
July 18, 2026 18:49
Best Music Director: Shaswat Sachdeva for ‘Article 370’
Shaswat Sachdeva won the National Film Award for Best Music Director for ‘Article 370’, the political action-thriller starring Yami Gautam and produced by Aditya Dhar. The film’s music blended heavy electronic synths with traditional Kashmiri folk elements.
July 18, 2026 18:44
Who is Major Mukund Varadarajan? The real-life hero behind Rajkumar Periyasamy’s ‘Amaran’
Who is Major Mukund Varadarajan? The real-life hero behind Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Amaran’
Who is Major Mukund Varadharajan: Amaran, a Tamil biopic on Major Mukund Varadharajan, showcases his bravery and sacrifice in the Indian Army.
July 18, 2026 18:44
Highest-grossing Indian movie at the box office in 2024: Pushpa 2
The Allu Arjun starrer ‘Pushpa 2’, directed by Sukumar, won two awards. Deepali Noor & Sheetal Sharma won the Best Costume Designer Award, and Sukumar was adjudged the winner in the Best Screenplay section.
Vivek M.V.
‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ movie review: Barring the ‘jatara’ sequence featuring a superb Allu Arjun and a few face-offs, director Sukumar’s film is incoherent
‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ movie review: Barring the ‘jatara’ sequence featuring a superb Allu Arjun and a few face-offs, director Sukumar’s film also starring Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil is incoherent.
July 18, 2026 18:43
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD
The movie’s star-studded cast includes Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan and Disha Patani. The mythological sci-fi actioner is directed by Nag Ashwin and its sequel is currently in works.
Shreyas Pande
‘Kalki 2898 AD’ movie review: Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan shine in a visually stunning drama
Kalki 2898 AD movie review: Nag Ashwin’s film blends Mahabharata with futuristic sci-fi, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Kamal Haasan
July 18, 2026 18:42
Best Debut Film of a director: Randeep Hooda's 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'
The biographical-drama ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’, tells the story of Hindutva idealogue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, exploring his early revolutionary activities and the torture he faced at the cellular jail. The film marks Hooda’s directorial debut, who also plays the titular role.
Vivek M.V.
July 18, 2026 18:40
Best Direction Award: Rajkumar Periyasamy for 'Amaran'
The Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi starrer told the story of real-life hero Major Mukund Varadarajan, an officer in the Indian Army’s Rajput Regiment. He is remembered as a fearless leader who prioritised his team’s safety and well being.
Vivek M.V.
‘Amaran’ movie review: Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi march into our hearts with this soul-stirring action film
‘Amaran’ movie review: A pacy screenplay, marvellous performances and excellent technical prowess make Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Amaran’ a brilliant ode to the resilient families who love their bravehearts
July 18, 2026 18:36
Kartik Aaryan win his debut National Film Award
Kartik Aaryan won his debut National Film Award for his performance in Kabir Khan’s biographical sports-drama, Chandu Champion. The film is based on the life of Murlikant Petkar, a former freestyle swimmer and India’s first Paralympic gold medalist. Kartik shared the award with Mamootty, who won it for the Malayalam film, Bramayugam.
Vivek M.V.
July 18, 2026 18:35
Replug | From a dream to reality
BIFFes 2024 | Sumanth Bhat on directing ‘Mithya’ and fulfilling a long-cherished dream
Backed by actor-director Rakshit Shetty, ‘Mithya’ is a poignant Kannada movie about a 11-year-old boy’s trauma of losing both his parents
July 18, 2026 18:34
Replug: Interview | ‘Bramayugam’ director Rahul Sadasivan: Creating a believable setting was important
Interview | ‘Bramayugam’ director Rahul Sadasivan: Creating a believable setting was important
Malayalam director Rahul Sadasivan talks about his black-and-white horror film ‘Bramayugam’ headlined by Mammootty, which has attained success at the box office
July 18, 2026 18:29
Mammootty wins honour for his performance in 'Bramayugam'
Mammootty has bagged his fourth National Award. He won the honour for his performance in ‘Bramayugam’, in which the veteran star plays a terrifying, tyrannical landlord, who traps travellers in his power-obsessed mind games. The Malayalam cinema giant had previously clinched the award for ‘Oru Vadakkab Veeragatha’ and ‘Mathilukal’ (1989), ‘Ponthan Mada’ and ‘Vidheyan’ (1993) and ‘Dr Ambedkar’ (1999)
‘Bramayugam’ movie review: Mammootty’s performance elevates this middling film on the evils of unrestricted power
Bramayugam movie review: The thriller elevates itself when it slowly transforms into a meditation on the nature of unquestioned power, and the way it brings out the worst in people, sometimes even the well-intentioned ones
July 18, 2026 18:25
Best Feature Film: Article 370
“Article 370” was adjudged as the best feature film in the 72nd National Film Awards announced today.
- Jagriti Chandra
July 18, 2026 18:23
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Yami Gautam
Yami Gautam won the Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the action-thriller Article 370, which is produced by Aditya Dhar and directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale.
Vivek M.V.
July 18, 2026 18:16
Best Dance Choreography: 'Aaj Ki Raat'
Vijay Ganguly wins Best Dance Choreography for the song ‘Aaj Ki Raat’, from ‘Stree 2’. Featuring Tamannah Bhatia, the peppy dance number has 211M views & counting on YouTube.
Vivek M.V.
July 18, 2026 18:12
Best action choreography: Maharaja
‘Maharaja’ is Vijay Sethupathi’s 50th film. Nithilan Saminathan directs the blockbuster thriller film. Anl Arasu, the winner, is a seasoned stunt master, with his upcoming work being Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’
Vivek M.V.
July 18, 2026 18:08
Best Malayalam film: Feminichi Fathima
‘Feminichi Fathima’ is a satirical drama that critiques the patriarchal and religious constraints placed on women.
Also read ‘Feminichi Fatima’ movie review here.
Vivek M.V.
July 18, 2026 18:06
Best Kannada film: Mithya
‘Mithya’, produced by well-known actor Rakshit Shetty, is the best Kannada film. The movie, premiered at Mumbai’s MAMI festival, is directed by debutant Sumanth Bhat. The film is about an 11-year-old boy’s trauma of losing both of his parents.
Vivek M.V.
July 18, 2026 18:05
Best Tamil film: Raayan
‘Raayan’, produced by Sun Pictures and directed by Dhanush, is the Best Tamil film. It’s a neo-noir revenge drama set in North Chennai.
- Vivek M.V.
July 18, 2026 18:03
Dhanush gets special mention for his performance in 'Captain Miller'
Actor Dhanush, who has previously won two National Awards, received a special mention for his performance in ‘Captain Miller’, a historical action adventure. Dhanush had won the Best Actor award for ‘Aadukalam’ (2011) and ‘Asuran’ (2019)
- M.V. Vivek
July 18, 2026 18:02
'Meiyazhagan' gets a special mention for sound mixing
The acclaimed Tamil slice-of-life drama ‘Meiyazhagan’ gets a special mention for sound mixing. The movie, directed by C. Prem Kumar, started Karthik and Arvind Swamy in lead roles.
July 18, 2026 17:50
Non-feature films
Special mention for non-feature films:
I. Bhadra-Kali Natakam (Bhadra-The Dance of Kali) (Malayalam)
Director: Ananda Jyothi (Jose Antony)
II. Chola Dora aur Sui (Hindi)
Director: Jaymin Modi & Lokesh Ghai
Best script:
Obur (Clouds) (Hindi & Kashmir)
Script writer: Faraz Ali
Best Narrator/Voice Over
Little Planet: A Tale of Frogs (English)
Narrator/Voice Over: Soundarya Jayachandran
Best Music Direction
Parat 41 chya Magavar (On the trail of 41 degree) (Marathi)
Music Director:Shivpal Singh Kang
Best Editing:
NDA (Hindi)
Editor Manvir Jasrotia
Best Sound Design:
Blue (Tamil)
Sound Designer: T.S. Hari Hara Sudhan
Best Cinematography:
Life in Loom (English, Tamil, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali)
Cinematographer: Edmond Ranson
Best Direction:
Statue of Unity-Ekta la Prateek (Hindi)
Director: Aanand L Rai
July 18, 2026 17:44
Best book on cinema
Best book on cinema: Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva Matthu Rajakeeya
Author: Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty
Publisher: Mirror Pusthaka
July 18, 2026 17:43
Best film critic award
Critic: Sanjeev Shrivastava (Hindi)
Published - July 18, 2026 05:41 pm IST
0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
- Access 10 free stories every month
- Save stories to read later
- Access to comment on every story
- Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
- Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Source: The Hindu – Entertainment
