Blab Entertainment
National Film Awards 2026: Yami Gautam, Mammootty, and Kartik Aaryan Take Top Honors
The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on Saturday, 18 July 2026, in New Delhi. The ceremony recognized the best of Indian cinema for films that received Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) approval during the 2024 calendar year. The awards cover feature films, non‑feature films, and writing on cinema across all Indian languages.
The ceremony was chaired by Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj, who announced the winners. The awards were presented by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), which has administered the National Film Awards since 2021.
Yami Gautam received the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her performance in the 2024 Hindi political thriller Article 370. The film, which explores the Kashmir policy, was released in February 2024 and received critical attention for its portrayal of the region’s complexities.
In the Best Actor category, two actors shared the honor. Veteran Malayalam star Mammootty won for his role in Bramayugam, a period horror film directed by Rahul Sadasivan. The film, released in 2024, was later screened at the Academy Museum’s Where the Forest Meets the Sea series in February 2026. Kartik Aaryan received the award for his performance in the Hindi film Chandu Champion, which was also released in 2024.
The Tamil slice‑of‑life drama Meiyazhagan earned a special mention for sound mixing. The film, produced by 2D Entertainment and starring Karthi and Arvind Swamy, was released worldwide on 27 September 2024 and was praised for its storytelling and technical execution.
The Best Popular Film award went to the Telugu science‑fiction film Kalki 2898 AD. The jury highlighted the movie’s wholesome entertainment value and its appeal to a broad audience.
The National Film Awards also include categories for non‑feature films and writing on cinema, though the winners in those categories were not highlighted in the brief announcement.
The awards ceremony is part of the National Film Festival, which showcases the winning films for public viewing. The festival is an annual event that celebrates the diversity of Indian cinema and provides a platform for filmmakers from all regions.
The 72nd edition of the awards follows the tradition of recognizing artistic and technical excellence in Indian filmmaking. The awards are presented by the Indian government and are considered one of the most prestigious honors in the country’s film industry.
As the ceremony concluded, the winners and their teams were congratulated for their achievements. The awards underscore the continued vibrancy of Indian cinema across languages and genres, and they set the stage for upcoming releases and future festival line‑ups.
The National Film Awards will continue to be announced annually, with the next ceremony scheduled for 2027. For now, the 2026 winners stand as a testament to the creative talent and technical skill present in India’s film community.
The ceremony was chaired by Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj, who announced the winners. The awards were presented by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), which has administered the National Film Awards since 2021.
Yami Gautam received the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her performance in the 2024 Hindi political thriller Article 370. The film, which explores the Kashmir policy, was released in February 2024 and received critical attention for its portrayal of the region’s complexities.
In the Best Actor category, two actors shared the honor. Veteran Malayalam star Mammootty won for his role in Bramayugam, a period horror film directed by Rahul Sadasivan. The film, released in 2024, was later screened at the Academy Museum’s Where the Forest Meets the Sea series in February 2026. Kartik Aaryan received the award for his performance in the Hindi film Chandu Champion, which was also released in 2024.
The Tamil slice‑of‑life drama Meiyazhagan earned a special mention for sound mixing. The film, produced by 2D Entertainment and starring Karthi and Arvind Swamy, was released worldwide on 27 September 2024 and was praised for its storytelling and technical execution.
The Best Popular Film award went to the Telugu science‑fiction film Kalki 2898 AD. The jury highlighted the movie’s wholesome entertainment value and its appeal to a broad audience.
The National Film Awards also include categories for non‑feature films and writing on cinema, though the winners in those categories were not highlighted in the brief announcement.
The awards ceremony is part of the National Film Festival, which showcases the winning films for public viewing. The festival is an annual event that celebrates the diversity of Indian cinema and provides a platform for filmmakers from all regions.
The 72nd edition of the awards follows the tradition of recognizing artistic and technical excellence in Indian filmmaking. The awards are presented by the Indian government and are considered one of the most prestigious honors in the country’s film industry.
As the ceremony concluded, the winners and their teams were congratulated for their achievements. The awards underscore the continued vibrancy of Indian cinema across languages and genres, and they set the stage for upcoming releases and future festival line‑ups.
The National Film Awards will continue to be announced annually, with the next ceremony scheduled for 2027. For now, the 2026 winners stand as a testament to the creative talent and technical skill present in India’s film community.
