Why in the News?
The 72nd National Film Awards will honour Indian films certified during 2024. The awards were announced on 18 July 2026 and will be presented by the President of India on 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
Key Highlights
- National Film Awards instituted: 1954
- Conferred annually by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- Cover three sections:
- Feature Films
- Non-Feature Films
- Best Writing on Cinema
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest honour in Indian cinema.
Evolution
- 1913: Dadasaheb Phalke’s Raja Harishchandra, a landmark in Indian filmmaking.
- 1954: National Film Awards instituted as State Awards for Films.
- 1968: First Best Actor and Best Actress awards.
- 1969: Dadasaheb Phalke Award instituted; Devika Rani was the first recipient.
- 1973: Directorate of Film Festivals began administering the awards.
- 2022: Directorate of Film Festivals merged into NFDC, the present implementing body.
Award Structure
Feature Films
- 26 categories, including special mentions.
- Awards include Swarna Kamal and Rajat Kamal.
- Cash prizes: ₹3 lakh and ₹2 lakh.
Non-Feature Films
- 16 categories, including special mentions.
- Covers documentaries, short films, animation and related forms.
Best Writing on Cinema
- Best Book on Cinema
- Best Film Critic
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- Highest honour in Indian cinema.
- Swarna Kamal + shawl
- Cash prize: ₹10 lakh for the 72nd edition.
72nd National Film Awards: Key Winners
- Best Feature Film: Article 370
- Best Direction: Rajkumar Periasamy for Amaran
- Best Actor: Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan, shared
- Best Actress: Yami Gautam for Article 370
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD
- Best Debut Film of a Director: Randeep Hooda for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
- Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar
- Best Documentary: Ram-Nami
- Best Debut Film of a Director, Non-Feature: Angen by Ravi Raj Murmu
- Best Children’s Film: 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu
Language Diversity
- Best Feature Film awards are given for languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Films in other languages can receive separate recognition.
- In the 72nd edition:
- Dholi: Garhwali
- IMBU: Tulu
- A Santhali film was recognised in the Non-Feature Film section for the first time.
How are Awards Selected?
- Entries are invited for films certified during the preceding calendar year.
- Separate juries are constituted for the three award sections.
- Feature films undergo a two-tier examination:
- Five regional panels shortlist entries.
- A central panel selects the winners.
- The Dadasaheb Phalke Award follows a separate process and has no open entries. A specially constituted committee recommends the recipient.
Eligibility
- Film must be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the award year.
- Must carry English subtitles.
- Feature film must run for more than 72 minutes.
- Previously submitted dubbed, remade or re-edited versions are not eligible.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024
- Recipient: Anant Nag
- Announced: 16 September 2026
- Acting career spans over five decades.
- Has worked in more than 300 films across six Indian languages.
- Received Padma Bhushan in 2025.
Prelims Quick Revision
- National Film Awards: instituted in 1954
- First awards: honoured films of 1953
- Administering ministry: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Present implementing body: NFDC
- Highest cinema honour: Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- First Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient: Devika Rani
- 72nd edition: films certified in 2024
- Ceremony: 22 September 2026, Ekta Nagar, Gujarat
- Feature films: two-tier jury process
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award: separate selection process
- Anant Nag: Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024
