Table of Contents
The 72nd National Film Awards 2026 winners list was officially announced today, July 18, 2026, by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the National Media Centre in New Delhi after a two-week delay. This year’s edition honors the finest Indian cinema released and certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1 and December 31, 2024, with a total of 161 films across 24 languages competing in 16 categories. The winners were selected by an 11-member jury headed by veteran filmmaker Jayaraj.
In this detailed blog, we cover the full 72nd National Film Awards winners list — from Best Feature Film and Best Actor to regional language honors, technical awards, and non-feature film categories.
When were the 72nd National Film Awards 2026 Announced?
The winners were announced on Saturday, July 18, 2026, in New Delhi by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
72nd National Film Awards 2026: Quick Overview
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Awards For | Indian cinema released in 2024 |
| Announced On | July 18, 2026 |
| Announced By | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |
| Venue | National Media Centre, New Delhi |
| Jury Chairperson | Jayaraj |
| Total Films Considered | 161 films across 24 languages |
| Total Categories | 16 |
| Biggest Winner | Article 370 |
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!Who Won Best Actor at the 72nd National Film Awards?
The Best Actor in a Leading Role award at the 72nd National Film Awards was shared by
- Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion
- Mammootty for Bramayugam
The rare shared win — one from Bollywood, one from Malayalam cinema — highlights how this year’s jury recognized outstanding performances across India’s film industries rather than favoring one language or region.
Article 370 Emerges as the Biggest Winner at 72nd National Film Awards
Political drama Article 370, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale and starring Yami Gautam, walked away as the standout title of this year’s National Film Awards, winning Best Feature Film, Best Actress, and Best Music Director. The film’s sweep instantly makes it one of the most talked-about titles of the year in Bollywood award circles.
Meanwhile, South Indian cinema had a phenomenal outing, with Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada films — including Amaran, Captain Miller, Raayan, Maharaja, Bramayugam, and Kalki 2898 AD — dominating major technical and performance categories, proving once again that pan-India cinema is redefining the national conversation.
Yami Gautam Wins Best Actress at 72nd National Film Awards 2026 for Article 370
Yami Gautam claimed the Best Actress award at the 72nd National Film Awards 2026 for her powerful performance as an intelligence officer in Article 370. Playing a central role in the politically charged drama around the abrogation of Article 370, Gautam delivered what many consider a career-best performance, blending emotional depth with quiet intensity.
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!72nd National Film Awards 2026: Best Actor, Best Actress & Major Honours
| Category | Winner(s) | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | Aditya Suhas Jambhale (Producer/Director) | Article 370 |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role (Shared Award) | Kartik Aaryan | Chandu Champion |
| Mammootty | Bramayugam | |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Yami Gautam | Article 370 |
| Best Supporting Actor | Sanjay Mishra | Bhakshak |
| Best Supporting Actress (Shared Award) | Sachana Namidass | Maharaja |
| Rapshree Varkady | Mithya | |
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Randeep Hooda | Swatantrya Veer Savarkar |
| Best Direction | Rajkumar Periasamy | Amaran |
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Nag Ashwin (Director) | Kalki: 2898 AD |
| Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values | Dhanush | Captain Miller |
| Best Children’s Film | — | Chinna Katha Kaadu |
| Best Child Artist | Riddhiman Banerjee, Tapomoy Deb, Gitashree Chakraborty, Arundev Pothula, Athish S Shetty | — |
National Film Awards 2026: Writing & Music Categories
| Category | Winner(s) | Film/Song |
|---|---|---|
| Best Screenplay (Original) | Sukumar | Pushpa: The Rule |
| Best Screenplay (Adapted) | Yogesh Deshpande | Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke |
| Best Screenplay Dialogue | Venky Atluri | Lucky Bhaskhar |
| Best Lyrics | Manoj Muntashir | “Jaane Do” (Maidaan) |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Abhay Jodhpurkar | “Gharat Ganpati” (Navasachi Gauri Mazi) |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Vaikom Vijayalakshmi | “Angu Vaana Konilu” (ARM) |
| Best Music Director (Songs) | Shashwat Sachdev | Article 370 |
| Best Music Direction (Background Score) | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Amaran |
National Film Awards 2026: Technical Awards (Cinematography, Editing & More)
| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Cinematography | Shehnad Jalal | Bramayugam |
| Best Editing | R Kalaivannan | Amaran |
| Best Production Designer | Nitin Zihani Choudhary | Kalki: 2898 AD |
| Best Costume Designer | Deepali Noor & Sheetal Sharma | Pushpa: The Rule (Part 2) |
| Best Make-Up Artist | P Ravi Kumar | Committee Kurrollu |
| Best Choreography | Vijay Ganguly | Stree 2 |
| Best Action Direction | Anl Arasu | Maharaja |
| Best Sound Design | Manas Choudhary | Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 |
Best Regional Film Winners — National Film Awards 2026 State-Wise List
South Indian cinema and regional-language films had a remarkable year, with strong showings from Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu industries alongside impressive wins from Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, and lesser-known regional industries.
| Language | Best Film | Director/Producer |
|---|---|---|
| Assamese | Juiphool | Jadumoni Dutta |
| Bengali | Chalchitra Ekhon | Anjan Dutt |
| Gujarati | Maaran | Abhishek Jain |
| Hindi | Srikanth | — |
| Kannada | Mithya | Sumanth Bhat |
| Konkani | Mog Asum | — |
| Malayalam | Feminichi Fathima | Fasil Muhammed |
| Manipuri | Sunita | Yumnam Ajit Singh |
| Marathi | Mukkam Post Bombilwadi | Paresh Mokashi |
| Odia | Lahari | Amartya Bhattacharyya |
| Tamil | Raayan | Dhanush |
| Telugu | Committee Kurrollu | Yadhu Vamsee |
| Garhwali | Dholi | Dinesh P Bhonsle |
| Tulu | IMBU | Shivdhwaj Studio |
Multiple National Award winner Dhanush had a landmark year, with his directorial debut vehicle Raayan bagging Best Tamil Film, while Captain Miller — also headlined by the actor — earned two separate honours, including Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.
Best Non-Feature (Documentary) Film Winners National Film Awards 2026
Non-feature and documentary filmmaking also received strong recognition this year:
| Category | Winner(s) | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values | Suraj Kumar | Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism |
| Best Animation Film | Joshy Benedict | Touched as Water |
| Best Short Film | — | Hamsafar |
| Best Direction (Non-Feature) | Aanand L. Rai | Statue of Unity: Ekta Ka Prateek |
| Best Cinematography (Non-Feature) | Edmond Ranson | Life in Loom |
| Best Sound Design (Non-Feature) | T. S. Hari Hara Sudhan | Blue |
| Best Editing (Non-Feature) | Manvir Jasrotia | NDA |
| Best Music Direction (Non-Feature) | Shivpal Singh Kang | Parat 41°chya Magavar (On the Trail of 41°) |
| Best Narrator | Soundarya Jayachandran | Little Planet: A Tale of Frogs |
| Best Script (Non-Feature) | Faraz Ali | Obur (Clouds) |
| Best Documentary | Bharatbala Ganapathy (Director) | Ram-Nami (Hindi) |
| Best Arts/Culture Film | Atul Pandey (Director) | Main Nida (Hindi) |
Special Mentions at the 72nd National Film Awards 2026
- Captain Miller — Dhanush
- Meiyazhagan
- Chola Dora aur Sui — Jaymin Modi & Lokesh Ghai
- Bhadra-Kali Natakam — Ananda Jyothi
Biggest Highlights of the 71st National Film Awards 2026
- A rare shared Best Actor award between a Bollywood star (Kartik Aaryan) and a Malayalam cinema icon (Mammootty), highlighting how National Award juries are increasingly celebrating pan-India talent equally.
- Randeep Hooda’s directorial breakthrough, proving actors-turned-directors continue to find critical acclaim in Indian cinema.
- South Indian cinema’s continued dominance in technical categories, with Tamil and Malayalam films topping cinematography, editing, and sound design.
- Political and biographical dramas like Article 370, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, and Maidaan taking centre stage, reflecting a larger trend in Indian mainstream cinema toward true-story and nationalist narratives.
