The 72nd National Film Awards are being presented in Gujarat on Tuesday, September 22, with President Droupadi Murmu conferring the prestigious honours at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia. The ceremony celebrates outstanding contributions to Indian cinema for the year 2024.
This year’s ceremony marks a significant change in the history of the National Film Awards. For the first time, the prestigious event has moved beyond New Delhi and is being hosted at Ekta Nagar, near the Statue of Unity. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has indicated that future editions will also be organised in different parts of the country.
The National Film Awards, established in 1954, recognise excellence across feature films, non-feature films and writing related to cinema. Over the decades, the awards have highlighted India’s diverse filmmaking traditions, languages and regional cinema.
Anant Nag to Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award
One of the major highlights of this year’s ceremony is the presentation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 to veteran actor Anant Nag. The honour recognises his contribution to Indian cinema over a career spanning more than five decades.
Nag has worked extensively in Kannada cinema and has also appeared in films across several other Indian languages.
Major National Film Award Winners
Several prominent names from Indian cinema are being recognised at this year’s ceremony.
Article 370 has received the award for Best Feature Film, while Yami Gautam has been named Best Actress for her performance in the film.
The Best Actor honour is being shared by Malayalam superstar Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion. Rajkumar Periasamy has won Best Director for Amaran.
Other notable honours include Kalki 2898 AD for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Randeep Hooda for Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
In the technical categories, Pushpa 2 has received recognition for costume design, Stree 2 has won the choreography award, while Maharaja has been honoured for action direction.
Celebrating India’s Cinematic Diversity
The event brings together actors, directors, technicians, writers and other professionals representing different sections of India’s film industry.
Holding the ceremony at Ekta Nagar is also part of a broader initiative to take the National Film Awards to different regions of the country. The government has associated the move with the idea of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”, highlighting India’s cultural and cinematic diversity.
The 72nd edition therefore combines the recognition of achievements in Indian cinema with a new approach to where the country’s premier film awards are presented.
With President Murmu presenting the honours and Anant Nag receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Gujarat ceremony has become a notable chapter in the history of the National Film Awards.
