72nd National Film Awards: Article 370 Takes Top Honors as Indian Cinema Celebrates a Landmark Year

By The Headline Guardian Entertainment Bureau

NEW DELHI, July 19 — The 72nd National Film Awards celebrated the breadth and diversity of Indian cinema, honoring outstanding achievements across languages, genres, and filmmaking disciplines. Leading the winners was Article 370, which secured the prestigious Best Feature Film award while its lead star Yami Gautam Dhar was recognized as Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Announced in New Delhi by the award juries constituted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the awards recognized films produced or certified during 2024.

From major commercial blockbusters to regional cinema and independent productions, the winners reflected the evolving landscape of Indian filmmaking.

Article 370 Emerges as the Biggest Winner

One of the most discussed films of the year, Article 370, emerged as the standout winner.

The political drama earned:

• Best Feature Film
• Best Actress in a Leading Role (Yami Gautam Dhar)
• Best Music Direction for Songs (Shashwat Sachdev)

The film’s success marks a significant achievement for its cast and creative team, while reaffirming the growing prominence of issue-based cinema in mainstream Indian filmmaking.

Yami Gautam’s performance received particular praise for its intensity and emotional conviction, making this one of the most notable milestones of her career.

Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan Share Best Actor Award

The Best Actor in a Leading Role category resulted in a rare tie.

Mammootty — Bramayugam

The Malayalam cinema icon was honored for his powerful performance in the critically acclaimed psychological thriller Bramayugam.

Kartik Aaryan — Chandu Champion

Kartik Aaryan earned recognition for his transformation in Chandu Champion, a sports drama that showcased a different side of the actor’s abilities.

The shared award highlights the National Film Awards’ commitment to recognizing excellence across different cinematic traditions and performance styles.

Rajkumar Periasamy Wins Best Director for Amaran

Tamil filmmaker Rajkumar Periasamy received the Best Director award for Amaran.

The film also secured the Best Editing award for editor R. Kalaivannan, further cementing its reputation as one of the year’s strongest technical achievements.

Praised for its storytelling and execution, Amaran emerged as one of the most critically respected films among this year’s winners.

Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Brings Recognition for Randeep Hooda

Actor-filmmaker Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Film of a Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.

The historical biographical drama marked Hooda’s directorial debut and was recognized for its ambitious storytelling and execution.

The award highlights a successful transition from actor to filmmaker for the veteran performer.

Kalki 2898 AD Wins Popular Film Category

Among the year’s biggest box-office successes, Kalki 2898 AD received the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

The ambitious science-fiction epic also won:

• Best Production Design (Nitin Zihani Choudhary)

The film’s large-scale world-building and technical achievements played a significant role in its recognition.

Pushpa 2 Dominates Writing and Costume Categories

Commercial blockbuster Pushpa 2: The Rule continued its award-winning run.

The film secured:

• Best Screenplay (Original) — Sukumar
• Best Costume Design — Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma

The awards recognized both the film’s storytelling and its visual identity.

Bramayugam Earns Technical Recognition

In addition to Mammootty’s acting triumph, Bramayugam won:

• Best Cinematography — Shehnad Jalal

The film’s striking visual style was widely praised and became one of its defining strengths.

Supporting Performance Winners

Best Supporting Actor

Sanjay Mishra (Bhakshak)

The veteran actor earned acclaim for his nuanced portrayal in the socially relevant drama.

Best Supporting Actress

Ropashree Varkady (Mithya)
Sachana Namidass (Maharaja)

The award was shared between the two performers for their impactful supporting roles.

Regional Cinema Takes Center Stage

The language-specific categories once again highlighted the diversity of Indian cinema.

Best Film by Language Winners

The list reflects the growing strength of regional filmmaking and the increasing national recognition of local storytelling traditions.

Special Recognition for Socially Relevant Cinema

Best Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values

Captain Miller

The Tamil-language film was honored for its thematic relevance and contribution to socially conscious storytelling.

Best Children’s Film

35 Chinna Katha Kaadu

The Telugu film impressed jurors with its engaging narrative and appeal to younger audiences.

Non-Feature Film Winners

Documentaries and short-form cinema also received recognition.

Best Non-Feature Film

Bhangaar — Directed by Sumira Roy

Best Debut Film of a Director (Non-Feature)

Angen — Directed by Ravi Raj Murmu

These awards highlight the continued importance of documentary filmmaking and alternative storytelling formats within India’s cinematic landscape.

A Reflection of Indian Cinema’s Diversity

The 72nd National Film Awards showcased an industry that continues to evolve creatively and commercially.

From political dramas and historical biographies to fantasy spectacles, social dramas, children’s films, and regional productions, the winners represent a broad spectrum of storytelling approaches.

The awards also reinforced the growing influence of regional cinema, which continues to produce some of the country’s most acclaimed films.

Major Winners at a Glance

The 72nd National Film Awards not only celebrated cinematic excellence but also highlighted the remarkable diversity, creativity, and cultural richness that continue to define Indian cinema on the global stage.