72nd National Film Awards 2026: National Recognition for Regional Languages and Diversity in Indian Cinema
The National Film Awards are premier honors in the Indian film industry, established in 1954 to promote creativity, technical excellence, and social relevance. The 72nd National Film Awards honor films released in 2024; the winners were announced on July 18, 2026, and the ceremony was held on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 will be conferred upon Anant Nag, who has acted in over 300 films across six Indian languages and was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2025. Key winners included Article 370 (Best Feature Film), Rajkumar Periasamy for Amaran (Best Director), Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan (jointly winning Best Actor), and Yami Gautam (Best Actress).
The National Film Awards are among the most prestigious honors in Indian cinema. Established in 1954, their objective goes beyond merely honoring popular films; they aim to encourage creativity, technical excellence, artistry, and social relevance in filmmaking. These awards provide a national platform for the cinematic traditions of India's diverse languages and regions.
Organization of the 72nd National Film Awards
The 72nd National Film Awards honor films released in 2024. The winners were announced on July 18, 2026, and the award ceremony was held on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. This event is also significant in the context of the policy to take the National Film Awards ceremony to different parts of the country.
Key Award Categories and Selection Process
The National Film Awards are primarily presented in categories such as Feature Film, Non-Feature Film, and Best Writing on Cinema. Eligibility for feature films includes movies that received CBFC certification during the relevant year. The selection process involves regional panels evaluating the films, with the final selection made by a central jury. The selection process for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award differs, as an expert committee selects the awardee.
2024 Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Anant Nag
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2024 will be conferred upon veteran actor Anant Nag. The Government of India announced his name on September 16, 2026. Anant Nag began his acting career in the early 1970s and has acted in over 300 films across six Indian languages, as well as in the famous serial 'Malgudi Days'. He was also honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2025.
Key Winners at the 72nd National Film Awards
The award for Best Feature Film went to the Hindi film 'Article 370', while Rajkumar Periasamy received the Best Director award for 'Amaran'. The award for Best Popular Film was given to 'Kalki 2898 AD'. The Best Actor award was shared by Mammootty ('Bramayugam') and Kartik Aaryan ('Chandu Champion'), while the Best Actress award went to Yami Gautam ('Article 370'). In addition to Hindi, the awards recognized films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Odia, Manipuri, Konkani, and other languages.
Significance for UPSC: Indian Cinema, Culture, and Linguistic Diversity
This topic is important for the UPSC exam from the perspective of 'Art and Culture' (GS Paper-I) and 'Current Affairs'. The National Film Awards serve as a medium to provide national-level recognition to the linguistic and cultural diversity of Indian society, regional cinema, and creative expression. Candidates should specifically remember facts such as: 1954—inception of the National Film Awards; 1969—establishment of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award; 1973—administration by the Directorate of Film Festivals; and 2022—merger of the Directorate of Film Festivals with the NFDC.
