The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on Saturday (July 18), recognising excellence in Indian cinema across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema. The awards honoured films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
The announcement was streamed live by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting through its official digital platforms. The 11-member jury was chaired by filmmaker Jayaraj.
Article 370 emerged as the biggest winner, taking home the Best Feature Film award, while Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) and Mammootty (Bramayugam) shared the Best Actor honour. Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370, and Rajkumar Periasamy was named Best Director for Amaran.
Best Feature Film: Article 370
Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) and Mammootty (Bramayugam)
Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)
Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran)
Best Supporting Actress: Ropashree Varkady (Mithya) and Sachana Namidass (Maharaja)
Best Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra (Bhakshak)
Best Debut Film: Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD
Best Film Promoting National, Social Values: Captain Miller
Best Children's Film: Chinna Katha Kaadu
Best Child Artist: Riddhiman Banerjee, Tapomoy Deb, Gitashree Chakraborty, Arundev Pothula and Athish S. Shetty
Best Screenplay: Sukumar (Pushpa 2) and Yogesh Deshpande (Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke)
Best Dialogue Writer: Venky Atluri (Lucky Baskhar)
Best Cinematography: Shehnad Jalaal (Bramayugam)
Best Production Design: Nitin Zihani Choudhary (Kalki 2898 AD)
Best Action Direction: Anl Arasu (Maharaja)
Best Editing: R. Kalaivannan (Amaran)
Best Sound Design: Manas Choudhary (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3)
Best Costume Design: Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma (Pushpa 2)
Best Make-Up Artist: P. Ravi Kumar (Committee Kurrollu)
Best Music Direction (Songs): Shashwat Sachdev (Article 370)
Best Music Direction (Background Score): G. V. Prakash Kumar (Amaran)
Best Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir (Maidaan)
Best Male Playback Singer: Abhay Jodhpurkar – Gharat Ganpati ("Navasachi Gauri Mazi")
Best Female Playback Singer: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi – ARM ("Angu Vaana Konilu")
Best Choreography: Vijay Ganguly (Stree 2)
Best Assamese Film: Juiphool
Best Bengali Film: Chalchitra Ekhon
Best Gujarati Film: Maaran
Best Hindi Film: Srikanth
Best Kannada Film: Mithya
Best Konkani Film: Mog Asum
Best Malayalam Film: Feminichi Fathima
Best Manipuri Film: Sunita
Best Marathi Film: Mukkam Post Bombilwadi
Best Odia Film: Lahari
Best Tamil Film: Raayan
Best Telugu Film: Committee Kurrollu
Best Garhwali Film: Dholi
Best Tulu Film: IMBU
Best Punjabi Film: No award
Best Tai Phake Film: No award
Best Garo Film: No award
Dhanush: Captain Miller
Suren G: Meiyazhagan
Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar (Obsolete)
Best Debut Film of a Director: Angen (Invisible) — Ravi Raj Murmu
Best Documentary: Ram-Nami — Bharatbala Ganapathy
Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values: Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism — Suraj Kumar
Best Animation Film: Touched as Water — Joshy Benedict
Best Short Film (Up to 30 Minutes): Hamsafar — Abhijeet Arvind Dalvi
Best Direction: Aanand L. Rai — Statue of Unity: Ekta Ka Prateek
Best Cinematography: Edmond Ranson — Life in Loom
Best Editing: Manvir Jasrotia — NDA
Best Sound Design: T. S. Hari Hara Sudhan — Blue
Best Music Direction: Shivpal Singh Kang — Parat 41°chya Magavar (On the Trail of 41°)
Best Narrator/Voice Over: Soundarya Jayachandran — Little Planet: A Tale of Frogs
Best Arts/Culture Film: Main Nida
Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film: Kakori
Best Film Critic: Sanjeev Shrivastava (Hindi)
Best Book on Cinema: Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva Matthu Rajakeeya (I Stand for You, the State Stands for Us: Political and Philosophical Dimensions of Kannada Cinema) by Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty
Bhadra-Kali Natakam (Bhadra – The Dance of Kali): Ananda Jyothi
Chola Dora aur Sui: Jaymin Modi and Lokesh Ghai