New Delhi: The 72nd National Film Awards will be presented by the President of India at Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat, on September 22, bringing together filmmakers, actors, technicians and artists from across the country.
The awards, which recognise outstanding achievements in Indian cinema for 2024, will be held outside the national capital as part of a new initiative by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to take the prestigious ceremony to different parts of the country.
‘Article 370’ wins Best Feature Film
Instituted in 1954, the National Film Awards are among India’s most prestigious honours for excellence in cinema, recognising creative and technical achievements across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema.
‘Article 370’ has been adjudged the Best Feature Film, while ‘Bhangaar’ won Best Non-Feature Film and ‘Ram-Nami’ was selected as Best Documentary.
Mammootty, for Bramayugam, and Kartik Aaryan, for Chandu Champion, have been named Best Actors in Leading Roles. Yami Gautam will receive the Best Actress award for Article 370.
Actor Randeep Hooda has been named Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
Kannada cinema gets recognition
The awards this year celebrate films across several languages, including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu and Garhwali.
Films such as Kalki 2898 AD, Amaran, Pushpa: The Rule-Part 02, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Stree 2 have also won honours in various categories.
For the first time, a Santhali film will receive an honour in the Non-Feature Film section.
In the Best Writing on Cinema category, Sanjeev Shrivastava has been named Best Film Critic. The Best Book on Cinema award will go to Dr Pradeep Kenchanuru for Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva matthu Rajakeeya, published by Mirror Pusthaka.
The ceremony at Ekta Nagar is expected to showcase India’s linguistic and cultural diversity under the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
