“Article 370” Wins Best Feature Film at National Film Awards; Ceremony on Sept 22

Ziraat Times News Desk

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 20: The 72nd National Film Awards, recognising achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024, will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Ekta Nagar (formerly Kevadia), Gujarat, on September 22, 2026.

The awards, instituted in 1954, recognise excellence across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema. The winners were announced on July 18, 2026, by the chairpersons of the three award juries.

The 72nd edition has recognised films and artists across multiple Indian languages and filmmaking traditions, reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of the country’s cinema.

Article 370 wins Best Feature Film

The principal awardees in the 72nd National Film Awards include:

• Best Feature Film: Article 370 (Hindi), produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios and directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale.

• Best Direction: Rajkumar Periasamy for Amaran (Tamil).

• Best Actor in a Leading Role: Mammootty for Bramayugam (Malayalam) and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion (Hindi), sharing the award.

• Best Actress in a Leading Role: Yami Gautam for Article 370 (Hindi).

• Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Sanjay Mishra for Bhakshak (Hindi).

• Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Sachana Namidass for Maharaja (Tamil) and Ropashree Varkady for Mithya (Kannada), sharing the award.

• Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD (Telugu).

• Best Debut Film of a Director: Randeep Hooda for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (Hindi).

The award for Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values went to Captain Miller (Tamil), while 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu (Telugu) received the Best Children’s Film award.

Non-feature films and writing on cinema

The awards also recognise achievements in documentary filmmaking, short films, animation and writing on cinema.

The principal non-feature and writing awards listed in the release include:

The release stated that Angen marked the first recognition of its kind for a Santhali film in the Non-Feature Film section.

Awards to reflect India’s linguistic and regional diversity

The National Film Awards recognise films made across the country, including productions in languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and films in other languages through separate awards.

The 72nd edition includes recognition for films in Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu and Garhwali, among other languages.

According to the release, Dholi in Garhwali and IMBU in Tulu were recognised under provisions for languages outside the Eighth Schedule.

National Film Awards to travel beyond the national capital

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to hold future National Film Awards ceremonies in different states and cities across the country.

The ceremony at Ekta Nagar is part of this initiative, intended to bring the awards closer to audiences and filmmaking communities beyond New Delhi. The move is also linked to the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.

Instituted in 1954, the awards have evolved over more than seven decades, expanding their recognition of artistic and technical achievements in Indian filmmaking.

The first edition recognised films released in 1953. Shyamchi Aai won the President’s Gold Medal for Best All-India Feature Film, while Mahabalipuram won the President’s Gold Medal for Best Documentary Film.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969 to honour outstanding contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

Anant Nag to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024

Veteran actor Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, according to the Government of India’s announcement on September 16, 2026.

Born on September 4, 1948, in Karnataka, Anant Nag began his acting career in the early 1970s. His work spans more than 300 films across six Indian languages, as well as the television series Malgudi Days.

He has received five Filmfare Awards and five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards. The Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on him in 2025.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest honour in Indian cinema and commemorates the contribution of filmmaker Dadasaheb Phalke, who directed Raja Harishchandra in 1913.

Award structure and selection process

The National Film Awards are organised into three principal sections:

• Feature Films.

• Non-Feature Films.

• Best Writing on Cinema.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is presented separately as a lifetime honour.

Feature films are assessed through a two-tier process comprising regional panels and a central jury. Separate juries assess non-feature films and writing on cinema. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award follows a distinct process, with a specially constituted committee of eminent film personalities recommending the recipient.

The juries for the 72nd edition were chaired by Jayaraj (Feature Film), Aseem Sinha (Non-Feature Film) and A. Chandrasekhar (Best Writing on Cinema).

The National Film Awards seek to promote artistic and technical excellence, social relevance and appreciation of the diverse cultures of India through cinema. They also recognise cinema as an art form and encourage critical writing and discussion about filmmaking.

The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Ekta Nagar will bring together award-winning filmmakers, actors, technicians and other contributors from across the country.