The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on Saturday July 18 in New Delhi, honouring the finest films and performances from Indian cinema in 2024. The winners were selected by an 11 member jury headed by veteran filmmaker Jayaraj, covering films certified by the CBFC between January 1 and December 31, 2024. This year’s awards were dominated by films spanning Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu cinema with several first time National Award winners among the honourees.
The biggest award of the night went to ‘Article 370’, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale. The film dramatises the political and administrative events leading up to the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, following an intelligence officer navigating the region’s complex security landscape. It was praised by the jury for handling a sensitive national subject with narrative tension, scale, and conviction. The film already had a strong theatrical run and now adds the country’s highest film honour to its legacy.
The Best Actor award was shared between two very different performers from two very different film industries. Kartik Aaryan won for ‘Chandu Champion’, his portrayal of para-athlete Murlikant Petkar, a role widely considered the most challenging and transformative of his career. This is Kartik’s first ever National Film Award, and the recognition marks a significant moment in his journey from mainstream commercial star to critically acknowledged performer.
Mammootty shared the award for his role in the Malayalam horror drama ‘Bramayugam’, directed by Rahul Sadasivan. Set in a dark, atmospheric world rooted in Kerala folklore, the film earned widespread critical acclaim and Mammootty’s performance was central to that. For the veteran actor, the award adds another chapter to one of Indian cinema’s most decorated careers.
Yami Gautam won her first National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in ‘Article 370’, in which she plays a sharp, determined intelligence bureau officer navigating high-stakes political and security operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Her restrained yet forceful performance was seen as the backbone of the film’s narrative momentum. The award is a landmark moment for Gautam, who has steadily built a reputation for taking on strong, grounded roles in recent years.
Nag Ashwin’s ambitious pan-India science fiction epic Kalki 2898 AD took home the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan, the film was one of the biggest box office events of 2024 and its recognition at the National Awards confirms its place as one of the year’s most significant mainstream achievements.
Randeep Hooda won the Best Debut Film of a Director award for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’, a passion project he also starred in.
Sanjay Mishra received the Best Supporting Actor award for ‘Bhakshak’, a drama that exposed institutional abuse inside a women’s shelter home, a role that drew particular praise for its nuance and understatement.
‘Srikanth’, starring Rajkummar Rao as visually impaired industrialist Srikanth Bolla, was named Best Film in Hindi.
Dhanush’s ‘Captain Miller’ won the award for Best Feature Film Promoting National, Environmental and Social Values, and also received a Special Mention for its sound mixing. Dhanush himself received a Special Mention for his performance in Captain Miller as well.
What stands out about the 72nd National Film Awards is the genuine spread of recognition across industries and languages. Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema all found representation at the top, a reminder that the National Awards, at their best, reflect the full breadth and diversity of Indian filmmaking. For first-time winners like Kartik Aaryan and Yami Gautam, the recognition carries particular weight signalling that their careers have reached a new and meaningful milestone.
Read More:
