The 72nd National Film Awards officially dropped their highly anticipated winners list in New Delhi today, capping off a delayed but fiercely competitive evaluation cycle. Kartik Aaryan secured his first-ever National Award, taking home Best Actor for his portrayal of India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, Murlikant Petkar, in Chandu Champion. He didn’t take the podium alone. The 35-year-old shared the top acting honor with Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty, who claimed his fourth career Best Actor trophy for his chilling performance in the psychological horror Bramayugam.
On the women’s side, Yami Gautam Dhar dominated the ballot. She bagged Best Actress for her lead role in the tense political thriller Article 370. And the film itself took the ultimate prize, winning Best Feature Film. This year’s announcements arrived slightly later than usual. An 11-member jury, spearheaded by veteran filmmaker Jayaraj, needed extra time to sift through a heavy stack of over 400 feature film submissions.
Getting recognized at this level requires making the cut within a very specific window. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting locked eligibility strictly to films holding Central Board of Film Certification clearance between January 1 and December 31, 2024. For Aaryan, the milestone validates a 15-year grind in the industry. His director, Kabir Khan, was quick to celebrate the breakthrough. He spoke to reporters, stating, “I’m thrilled that Kartik got the National Award… It shows that hard work and dedication truly pays off.”
Box office behemoths also found space on the prestigious roster. The sci-fi spectacle Kalki 2898 AD earned the award for Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. That selection proves the jury kept an eye out for both intense political dramas and massive crowd-pleasing blockbusters this year.