The 72nd National Film Awards, honoring films certified by the CBFC in 2024, were announced on July 18, 2026, in New Delhi. A jury chaired by acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj selected the winners from entries across India. Article 370 emerged as the biggest winner, taking home Best Feature Film along with other honours.
Here is the complete list of winners across major categories:
Feature Film Awards
- Best Feature Film: Article 370
- Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) and Mammootty (Bramayugam) (shared)
- Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)
- Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran)
- Best Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra (Bhakshak)
- Best Supporting Actress: Ropashree Varkady (Mithya) and Sachana Namidass (Maharaja) (shared)
- Best Debut Director: Randeep Hooda (Swatantrya Veer Savarkar)
- Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD
- Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social & Environmental Values: Captain Miller
- Best Children’s Film: Chinna Katha Kaadu (also listed as 35-Chinna Katha Kaadu in some references)
- Best Child Artist: Riddhiman Banerjee, Tapomoy Deb, Gitashree Chakraborty, Arundev Pothula, and Athish S. Shetty (shared)
Writing Awards
- Best Screenplay (Original): Sukumar (Pushpa 2 / Pushpa: The Rule)
- Best Screenplay (Adapted): Yogesh Deshpande (Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke)
- Best Dialogue Writer: Venky Atluri (Lucky Baskhar)
Technical Awards
- Best Cinematography: Shehnad Jalal (Bramayugam)
- Best Editing: R. Kalaivannan / K Kalaivanan (Amaran)
- Best Production Design: Nitin Zihani Choudhary (Kalki 2898 AD)
- Best Costume Design: Deepali Noor & Sheetal Sharma (Pushpa 2)
- Best Make-up Artist: P. Ravi Kumar (Committee Kurrollu)
- Best Music Direction (Songs): Shashwat Sachdev (Article 370)
- Best Background Score: GV Prakash Kumar (Amaran)
- Best Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir (Maidaan)
- Best Male Playback Singer: Abhay Jodhpurkar – Gharat Ganpati (from Navasachi Gauri Mazi)
- Best Female Playback Singer: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi – Angu Vaana Konilu (from ARM)
- Best Choreography: Vijay Ganguly (Stree 2)
- Best Action Direction: Anl Arasu (Maharaja)
- Best Sound Design: Manas Choudhury (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3)
Regional Film Awards (Best Film in each language)
- Assamese: Juiphool
- Bengali: Chalchitra Ekhon
- Gujarati: Maaran
- Hindi: Srikanth
- Kannada: Mithya
- Konkani: Mog Asum
- Malayalam: Feminichi Fathima
- Manipuri: Sunita
- Marathi: Mukkam Post Bombilwadi
- Odia: Lahari
- Tamil: Raayan
- Telugu: Committee Kurrollu
- Garhwali: Dholi
- Tulu: IMBU
Special Mentions (Feature): Dhanush (Captain Miller), Suren G (Meiyazhagan)
Non-Feature & Other Awards
- Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar (Obsolete) – Sumira Roy
- Best Debut Film of a Director (Non-Feature): Angen (Invisible) – Ravi Raj Murmu
- Best Direction (Non-Feature): Aanand L. Rai (Statue of Unity: Ekta Ka Prateek)
- Best Documentary: Ram-Nami – Bharatbala Ganapathy
- Best Arts/Culture Film: Main Nida – Atul Pandey
- Best Animation Film: Touched as Water – Joshy Benedict
- Best Short Film: Hamsafar – Abhijeet Arvind Dalvi
- Best Film Promoting Social & Environmental Values (Non-Feature): Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism – Suraj Kumar
- Best Cinematography (Non-Feature): Edmond Ranson (Life in Loom)
- Best Editing (Non-Feature): Manvir Jasrotia (NDA)
- Best Sound Design (Non-Feature): T.S. Hari Hara Sudhan (Blue)
- Best Music Direction (Non-Feature): Shivpal Singh Kang (Parat 41°chya Magavar)
- Best Narrator/Voice Over: Soundarya Jayachandran (Little Planet: A Tale of Frogs)
- Best Book on Cinema: Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi by Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty
- Best Film Critic: Sanjeev Shrivastava
- Special Mentions (Non-Feature): Chola Dora aur Sui, Bhadra-Kali Natakam
What’s your favorite win from the 72nd National Film Awards? Share in the comments below!