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National Film Awards: The National Film Festival was held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Rocketry won the Best Film award, and Allu Arjun and Alia Bhatt won the best actor and actress awards
Dada Saheb Phalke Award Overview:
To honour the Father of Indian Cinema, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the National Film Awards named the most prestigious and coveted award of Indian Cinema after him. He is the man who made the first Indian Feature film Raja Harishchandra in 1913. Popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke, he then went on to make 95 films and 26 short films in a span of 19 years. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was introduced in 1969 by the government to recognize the contribution of film personalities towards the development of Indian Cinema. The first recipient of this award was Devika Rani.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award is given to a film personality for his / her outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema. The award comprises of a Swarna Kamal, a cash Prize of Rs. 10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs) certificate, silk scroll and a shawl.
National Film Awards:
The National Awards for films, which were started as an annual incentive by the Government of India, for the making of artistic, competent and meaningful films have come a long way, to cover the entire national spectrum of Indian Cinema, to judge merit by the highest possible yardstick and to become the most coveted and prestigious awards in the country.
From 1954, when the very first awards for the films of 1953 were given, down to the current year when the top awards for the films of 2016 were recently given, there lies the 64 years old story of an awards scheme, which is surely the most unique of its kind. The awards are given in three sections – Feature Films, Non-Feature Films and Best Writing on Cinema.
In no other country, has the State encouragement to good cinema been such a vast and monetarily rewarding form year after year. In turn, this has influenced and encouraged the making of creative, serious, cinematic and significant films over the years.
Every year, the best works as well as individual achievements stand out on the highest national level, for all to see. This itself provides a tremendous spur and initiative for better filmmaking, by creating a desire to win recognition and also the substantial cash prizes going with it.
Another commendable aspect of the National Awards is to encourage good films in all languages which is a marathon task, considering that India makes films in some twenty languages and dialects. Similarly, awards for documentaries, whether short or full length, are given in different categories.
If we take a quick look-back at the decades which have rolled by, we find that the Awards, which were initially called “State Awards”, had started off in a small way, with two President’s Gold Medals, two certificates of merit and silver medals for a dozen regional films. For the first six years, it was the practice to give the Regional Best Award to the National Best Film itself. Later, a medal or certificate of merit was given to two or three films in each language.
Separate awards for artistes and technicians were instituted in 1968 for the films of 1967, Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar being the first actress and actor to get them. For some time, these were called Urvashi and Bharat Awards but the names of the Awards were later changed.
In their aim and purpose, the National Awards have undergone several changes since their inception. In the early years, except for a rare case like Pather Panchali , the content seemed to be given more weightage than the form. But over time, with film-makers exploring different facets of the medium and enlightened cineastes being appointed on the Jury, this has changed enormously and now the form cum technique is considered as important as the content and thematic ideas.
And thus, as the National Awards step into their 72nd year for the films of 2026, we can hope that the scheme shaping into its full maturity will encourage and bring to light all attempts at better filmmaking, from whatever source they come and in whichever language they may be.
National Awards aim at encouraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance contributing to the understanding and appreciation of cultures of different regions of the country in cinematic form and thereby also promoting integration and unity of the nation. The awards also aim at encouraging the study and appreciation of cinema as an art form and dissemination of information and critical appreciation of this art form through publication of books, articles, reviews etc.
The National Awards along with cinema’s highest honour, Dadasaheb Phalke award, are presented by the President of India in a solemn function in the presence of the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Chairpersons of the three juries, representatives of Film Federation of India and Confederation of All India Cine Employees and senior official. Since the Awards for 2007, two live playback singing performances are also held during the ceremony.
In their 72nd year (2026) now, the National Film Awards continue to underline cinematic excellence. The awards have over the years brought the best talent present in India Cinema to national limelight. In its over a half a century long history, the National Film Awards have nurtured numerous talent who are now national icons and also known internationally.
National Film Awards for Year 2024:
Article 370 wins best feature film with Yami Gautam as best actress, Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan share best actor award
The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards for the year 2024 were announced today by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The prestigious awards recognise outstanding achievements in Indian cinema across feature films, non-feature films, and writings on cinema, celebrating the diversity and excellence of the country’s film industry.
Hindi hit movie Article 370, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale and produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, bagged the Best Feature Film award. The film also earned Yami Gautam the Best Actress in a Leading Role honour. In a rare shared win, Mammootty for Bramayugam (Malayalam) and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion (Hindi) were jointly adjudged the Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Randeep Hooda made a winning directorial debut with Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (Hindi), securing the Best Debut Film of a Director award. The film highlights the life of the revolutionary Veer Savarkar and marks a significant milestone in Hooda’s multifaceted career.
Several blockbuster films shone brightly at the awards. Kalki 2898 AD (Telugu), directed by Nag Ashwin, won the Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Amaran (Tamil), directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, received the Best Direction award. Other major commercial successes like Pushpa: The Rule Part-02, Stree 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, and Maharaja also received accolades in various technical and creative categories.
In the non-feature category, Bhangaar (Marathi & English) won the Best Non-Feature Film award, while Ram-Nami (Hindi) was honoured with the Best Documentary award.
The awards were announced by the chairpersons of the respective juries, Jayaraj for Feature Films, Aseem Sinha for Non-Feature Films, and A. Chandrasekhar for Best Writing on Cinema, in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry and the Press Information Bureau.
The complete list of awardees spans multiple languages and categories. Regional films from Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and several others received recognition, along with films in languages such as Garhwali and Tulu.
The full list of the winners is given below.
Awards for Feature Films 2024:
| Award CATEGORY | Film TITLE | Awardee | Medal & Cash Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | Article 370 (Hindi) | Producer: Jio Studios & B62 Studios Director: Aditya Suhas Jambhale | Swarna Kamal – ₹ 3,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (Hindi) | Director: Randeep Hooda | Swarna Kamal – ₹ 3,00,000/- |
| Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Kalki 2898 AD (Telugu) | Producer: Vyjayanthi Movies Director: Nag Ashwin Singireddy | Swarna Kamal – ₹ 3,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values | Captain Miller (Tamil) | Producer: Sathya Jyothi Films Director: Arun Matheswaran | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Children’s Film | 35- Chinna Katha Kaadu (Telugu) | Producer: S Originals & Waltair Productions Pvt. Ltd. Director: Nanda Kishore Emani | Swarna Kamal – ₹ 3,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Direction | Amaran (Tamil) | Director: Rajkumar Periasamy | Swarna Kamal – ₹ 3,00,000/- |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Bramayugam (Malayalam) | Actor: Mammootty | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (shared) |
| Chandu Champion (Hindi) | Actor: Kartik Aaryan | ||
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Article 370 (Hindi) | Actress: Yami Gautam | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Bhakshak (Hindi) | Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Maharaja (Tamil) | Supporting Actress: Sachana Namidass | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (shared) |
| Mithya (Kannada) | Supporting Actress: Ropashree Varkady | ||
| Best Child Artist | Mithya (Kannada) | Child Artist: Athish S Shetty | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (shared) |
| 35- Chinna Katha Kaadu (Telugu) | Child Artist: Arundev Pothula | ||
| Onko Ki Kothin (Bengali) | Child Artist: Riddhiman Banerjee Tapomoy Deb Gitashree Chakraborty | ||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Gharat Ganpati (Marathi) | Male Playback Singer: Abhay Jodhpurkar (For Song: Navasachi Gauri Mazi) | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Female Playback Singer | A. R. M (Malayalam) | Female Playback Singer: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi (For Song: Angu Vaana Konilu) | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Cinematography | Bramayugam (Malayalam) | Cinematographer: Shehnad Jalal | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Screenplay | i. Pushpa (The Rule Part – 02) (Telugu) | Screenplay Writer (Original): Bandreddi Sukumar | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| ii. Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke (Marathi) | Screenplay Writer (Adapted): Yogesh Deshpande | ||
| iii. Lucky Baskhar (Telugu) | Dialogue Writer: Venky Atluri | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- | |
| Best Sound Design | Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (Hindi) | Sound Designer: Manas Choudhury | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Editing | Amaran (Tamil) | Editor: R. Kalaivannan | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Production Design | Kalki 2898 AD (Telugu) | Production Designer: Nitin Zihani Choudhary | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Costume Design | Pushpa (The Rule Part – 02) (Telugu) | Costume Designer: Deepali Noor & Sheetal Sharma | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (shared) |
| Best Make-up | Committee Kurrollu (Telugu) | Make-up Artist: P Ravi Kumar | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Music Direction | i. Article 370 (Hindi) | Music Director (Songs): Shashwat Sachdev | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| ii. Amaran (Tamil) | Music Director (Background Music): G. V. Prakash Kumar | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- | |
| Best Lyrics | Maidaan (Hindi) | Lyricist: Manoj Muntashir (For Song: Jaane Do) | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Choreography | Stree 2 (Hindi) | Choreographer: Vijay Ganguly (For Song: Aaj Ki Raat) | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Action Direction (Stunt Choreography) | Maharaja (Tamil) | Stunt Choreographer: Anl Arasu | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in each of the language specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution | |||
| Best Assamese Film | Juiphool | Producer & Director: Jadumoni Dutta | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Bengali Film | Chalchitra Ekhon | Producer: Anjan Dutt Production Director: Anjan Dutt | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Gujarati Film | Maaran | Producer: Cineman Productions Limited Director: Abhishek Jain | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Hindi Film | Srikanth | Producer: Super Cassettes Industries Pvt. Ltd. Chalk N Cheese Films Production LLP Director: Tushar Hiranandani | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Kannada Film | Mithya | Producer: Paramvah Pictures & KRG Studios Director: Sumanth Bhat | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Konkani Film | Mog Asum | Producer: Flowing Mandovi Films LLP R S Creations Kathputlee Arts and Films Pvt. Ltd. Director: Radheshyam Pipalwa & Agnelo Angelo Braganza | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Malayalam Film | Feminichi Fathima | Producer: 1001 Stories & AFD Cinemas Director: Fasil Muhammed | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Manipuri Film | Sunita | Producer: Skyline Pictures, Khuman Leipak Pictures, H. M. Production & Cultural Society Khuman Maheikol Production Director: Yumnam Ajit Singh | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Marathi Film | Mukkam Post Bombilwadi | Producer: Vivek Films Mayasabha Karamanuk Mandali LLP Director: Paresh Mokashi | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Odia Film | Lahari | Producer: Jhilik Motion Pictures Director: Amartya Bhattacharyya | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Tamil Film | Raayan | Producer: Sun TV Network Limited Director: Dhanush | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Telugu Film | Committee Kurrollu | Producer: Pink Elephant Pictures Shree Radha Damodara Studios Director: Yadhu Vamsee | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Feature Film in each of the Languages other than those specified in Schedule VIII of the Constitution | |||
| Best Garhwali Film | Dholi | Producer: SC Pharmachem Pvt. Ltd. Director: Dinesh P. Bhonsle | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Tulu Film | IMBU | Producer: Pichchar Studio Director: Shivadhwaj Shetty | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Special Mention | Captain Miller | Actor: Dhanush | Certifi |
vAwards for Non-Feature Films 2024:
| Award CATEGORY | Film TITLE | Awardee | Medal & Cash Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Non-Feature Film | Bhangaar(Marathi & English) | Producer & Director: Sumira Roy | Swarna Kamal – ₹ 3,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Angen(Santhali) | Director: Ravi Raj Murmu | Swarna Kamal – ₹ 3,00,000/- |
| Best Biographical / Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film | Kakori(Hindi) | Producer: KSR Brothers Minti Mishra Director: Kamlesh K Mishra | Rajat KamalRs 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Arts / Culture Film | Main Nida(Hindi) | Producer: Sampreshan Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. Director: Atul Pandey | Rajat KamalRs 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Documentary | Ram-Nami(Hindi) | Producer: BBP Studio Virtual Bharat Pvt. Ltd. Director: Bharatbala Ganapathy | Rajat KamalRs 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values | Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism(Hindi, Rajasthani & English) | Producer: Johnsons Suraj Films International Director: Suraj Kumar | Rajat Kamal Rs 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Animation Film | Touched as Water(Silent) | Producer: JB Productions Director & Animator: Joshy Benedict | Rajat Kamal Rs 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Short Film (Up to 30 Min) | Hamsafar (Marathi) | Producer: Anushka Motion Pictures and Entertainments Director: Abhijeet Arvind Dalvi | Rajat Kamal Rs 2,00,000/- (each) |
| Best Direction | Statue of Unity – Ekta ka Prateek(Hindi) | Director: Aanand L Rai | Swarna Kamal Rs 3,00,000/- |
| Best Cinematography | Life in Loom(English, Tamil, Hindi, Assamese & Bengali) | Cinematographer: Edmond Ranson | Rajat Kamal Rs 2,00,000/- |
| Best Sound Design | Blue(Tamil) | Sound Designer: T S Hari Hara Sudhan | Rajat KamalRs 2,00,000/- |
| Best Editing | NDA(Hindi) | Editor: Manvir Jasrotia | Rajat KamalRs 2,00,000/- |
| Best Music Direction | Parat 41°chya Magavar (On the Trail of 41°)(Marathi) | Music Director: Shivpal Singh Kang | Rajat KamalRs 2,00,000/- |
| Best Narration/ Voice Over | Little Planet: A Tale of Frogs(English) | Narrator: Soundarya Jayachandran | Rajat KamalRs 2,00,000/- |
| Best Script | Obur(Hindi & Kashmiri) | Script Writer: Faraz Ali | Rajat Kamal – ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Special Mention | Bhadra-Kali Natakam(Malayalam) | Director: Ananda Jyothi (Jose Antony) | Certificate |
| Chola Dora aur Sui(Hindi) | Director: Jaymin Modi & Lokesh Ghai | Certificate (each) |
In addition to the awards for movies, Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty won the award for Best Writing on Cinema, for the book “Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva matthu Rajakeeya”. Sanjeev Shrivastava has been awarded the Best Film Critic award. Movies
The National Film Awards continue to serve as a benchmark for cinematic excellence in India, honouring not only mainstream entertainers but also films that promote national, social, and environmental values, as well as those excelling in children’s cinema, music, choreography, and technical prowess. The winners will receive their Swarna Kamal and Rajat Kamal medals along with cash prizes at a special ceremony to be held later.
History of National Award
The National Film Awards first began in the year 1954 in the name of “State Awards.” Every year, the best movies irrespective of the regional languages were nominated and awarded. This government started the National Award in 1967, handing it away to actors and technicians working in the movies. Nargis was awarded the Best Actress award for the first time for Raat Aur Din and Uttam Kumar won Best Actor Award for Antony Firingee and Chiriyakhana.
69th National Film Awards: Photo gallery
Other Film Awards: Photo gallery
The best known film festivals are the Venice Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, the Toronto Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, and the Berlin International Film Festival.
