Excellence Across Languages: Article 370 Sweeps Top Honors, Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan Share Best Actor, and Telugu Cinema Shines Bright at the 72nd National Film Awards!
The celebration of Indian cinematic brilliance reached its annual zenith as the winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were officially announced, honoring films certified across the board through 2024. From high-octane political thrillers and period mythologies to deeply intimate rural dramas, this year’s jury recognized artistic grit, technical mastery, and storytelling that pushes boundaries.
The political-action drama Article 370 emerged as a major winner, clinching the coveted Best Feature Film award, while its lead star Yami Gautam took home the Best Actress trophy. In the Best Actor category, the race ended in a celebrated tie: Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan won hearts and national acclaim for his inspiring physical and emotional transformation in Chandu Champion, sharing the honor with Malayalam cinema's eternal legend Mammootty, who delivered a chilling masterclass in the folk horror masterpiece Bramayugam.
Meanwhile, veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag was announced as the recipient of India’s highest cinematic distinction, the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, for his monumental contributions to the silver screen. Other major pan-Indian winners included Rajkumar Periasamy, who won Best Director for the Tamil military action-drama Amaran.
Tollywood's Golden Harvest: Telugu Cinema Bags 9 National Honors!
Telugu cinema stamped its absolute dominance on the national map by bagging an impressive nine National Awards, proving that Tollywood excels equally in massive sci-fi spectacles, rustic grassroots realism, and sharp commercial writing:
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Epic Wholesome Entertainment: Director Nag Ashwin’s dystopian sci-fi marvel Kalki 2898 AD—which reimagined Mahabharata lore in a futuristic world spanning Kasi, Shambala, and the Complex—was adjudged the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Adding to its glory, production designer Nitin Zihani Choudhary won the award for Best Production Design for architecting those distinct, breathtaking worlds.
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Massive Blockbuster Recognition: Sukumar’s box-office behemoth Pushpa 2: The Rule claimed two major wins: Best Original Screenplay for Sukumar’s rooted writing, and Best Costume Design for the intricate ethnic and stylized work of Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma, famously highlighted by the iconic Gangamma Jatara sequence.
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Heartfelt Storytelling & Debut Triumph: Producer Niharika Konidela’s nostalgic friendship drama Committee Kurrollu, helmed by debut director Yadhu Vamsi, was named the Best Telugu Film. The film's technical brilliance was further underlined as P. Ravi Kumar won the National Award for Best Make-Up Artist.
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Dialogues & Emotional Depth: Director Venky Atluri won widespread acclaim and the Best Dialogue Writer award for his gripping financial drama Lucky Baskhar, starring Dulquer Salmaan. Additionally, Nanda Kishore Emani’s poignant family drama 35-Chinna Katha Kaadu won Best Children's Film, with young talent Arundev Pothula sharing the honor for Best Child Artist.
A Complete Snapshot of Major National Winners
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Best Feature Film: Article 370 (Hindi)
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Best Actor (Joint): Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) & Mammootty (Bramayugam)
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Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)
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Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran - Tamil)
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Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD (Telugu)
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Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Anant Nag
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Best Original Screenplay: Sukumar (Pushpa 2: The Rule)
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Best Dialogue Writer: Venky Atluri (Lucky Baskhar)
With regional storytellers pushing the envelope and mainstream giants delivering unmatched spectacle, the 72nd National Film Awards once again reminded audiences of the rich, diverse tapestry that makes Indian cinema truly global.
