Prez Murmu presents 72nd National Film Awards in Kevadia, Gujarat

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday presented the 72nd National Film Awards at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, honouring outstanding achievements in Indian cinema for 2024.The ceremony, attended by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, marked a significant change in the way the country celebrates its premier cinema awards, as the event was held outside New Delhi for the first time.

VIDEO | Ekta Nagar, Kevadia: President Droupadi Murmu presents 72nd National Film Awards.

(Source: Third Party)#NationalFilmAwards

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) pic.twitter.com/GrqmAzrjX7

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 22, 2026

Set against the picturesque landscape of Ekta Nagar, home to the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the ceremony brought together leading actors, filmmakers, technicians and other members of the Indian film fraternity.Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel welcomed the film fraternity to Gujarat, saying the state was proud to host the awards “amidst the majestic surroundings of the Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar” in the presence of President Murmu. He also congratulated Kartik Aaryan on winning the Best Actor award and highlighted Gujarat’s unity, grandeur and hospitality.

Gujarat is proud to host the 72nd National Film Awards amidst the majestic surroundings of the Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar, graced by the inspiring presence of Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji.

Huge congratulations to the incredibly talented and lively… https://t.co/ytBWVLH8Vv

— Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) September 22, 2026

Anant Nag Receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 for his contribution to Indian cinema and a career spanning more than five decades.Nag, who has worked in more than 300 films across six Indian languages, began his acting career in the early 1970s. He has also been widely recognised for his work in films and television, including the popular series ‘Malgudi Days’. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2025.The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, instituted in 1969, is the highest honour in Indian cinema and recognises outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the industry.

‘Article 370’ Wins Best Feature Film
Yami Gautam-starrer ‘Article 370’ won the Best Feature Film award, while Gautam was honoured with the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for the film.Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for ‘Bramayugam’ and ‘Chandu Champion’, respectively.Rajkumar Periasamy received the Best Direction award for the Tamil film ‘Amaran’, while Randeep Hooda was honoured with the Best Debut Film of a Director award for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’.‘Kalki 2898 AD’ won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment award, while ‘Captain Miller’ was recognised as the Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.‘Bhangaar’ was named Best Non-Feature Film and ‘Ram-Nami’ won the Best Documentary award.Films including ‘Pushpa: The Rule Part-02’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ and ‘Stree 2’ also received honours in various categories.

A Celebration of India's Cinematic Diversity
The 72nd National Film Awards reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of Indian cinema, with films from Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu and Garhwali among those recognised.In a significant milestone, a Santhali film received an honour in the Non-Feature Film section for the first time. ‘Angen’, directed by Ravi Raj Murmu, won the Best Debut Film of a Director in the Non-Feature Film category.
Technical honours included Shashwat Sachdev for Best Music Direction (Songs) for ‘Article 370’, G V Prakash Kumar for Best Background Music for ‘Amaran’, Manas Choudhary for Best Sound Design for ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’, R Kalaivannan for Best Editing for ‘Amaran’, and Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma for Best Costume Design for ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’.
In the Best Writing on Cinema category, Sanjeev Shrivastava won the Best Film Critic award. The Best Book on Cinema award went to Dr Pradeep Kenchanuru for his Kannada work on the political and philosophical dimensions of Kannada cinema.
National Film Awards Move Beyond Delhi
The ceremony at Ekta Nagar marks a new chapter in the National Film Awards’ seven-decade journey. Instituted in 1954, the awards have traditionally been presented in the national capital.The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has now decided to take future editions to different states and cities, bringing the celebration of Indian cinema closer to audiences across the country and highlighting India’s regional and cultural diversity.
Speaking about the initiative, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the National Film Awards would be taken to some of the country’s finest tourist destinations, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.

Kevadia, Gujarat: At the 72nd National Film Awards, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, "Today we have gathered near the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar for the National Film Awards. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable President for gracing this event and making it… pic.twitter.com/cjQVumsll9

— IANS (@ians_india) September 22, 2026

Vaishnaw highlighted Ekta Nagar’s global recognition as the home of the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and said that the presence of the President and leading members of the film fraternity at such a destination would give people a greater opportunity to discover and learn about it.
Seven Decades of Honouring Indian Cinema
The National Film Awards were instituted in 1954 to encourage artistic and technical excellence in Indian filmmaking. Over the decades, the awards have expanded to cover feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema, alongside the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.The 72nd edition honours films certified during 2024 and was announced in July 2026 by the respective jury chairpersons.By taking the ceremony to Ekta Nagar, the government has combined the recognition of Indian cinema’s finest work with a wider celebration of the country’s cultural and geographical diversity.The setting also adds a distinct symbolism to the occasion: at a venue built around the legacy of Sardar Patel and the idea of national unity, Indian cinema’s many languages, traditions and creative voices came together on one national stage.

(State Correspondent)