New Delhi: The 72nd National Film Awards celebrated the finest achievements in Indian cinema, with Hindi film Article 370 emerging as the Best Feature Film and Yami Gautam winning the Best Actress award for her powerful performance in the film.
💫 INDIAN CINEMA SHINES!
72nd National Film Awards 2026:
Yami Gautam (Best Actress for Article 370)
Kartik Aaryan & Mammootty (Best Actors for Chandu Champion & Bramayugam)
Kalki 2898 AD (Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment)#72ndNationalAward #IndianCinema pic.twitter.com/ZbTdoEhVUs
— GlobeUpdate (@Globupdate) July 18, 2026
Announcing the winners in New Delhi on Friday, Feature Film Jury Chairman Jayaraj said Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor honour for their acclaimed performances in Bramayugam and Chandu Champion, respectively.
🏆 72nd #NationalFilmAwards 🏆
➡️ Best Actress in a Leading Role:
⭐ Yami Gautam
🎬 Article 370 (Hindi)@MIB_India @nfdcindia pic.twitter.com/sSvdodEK9M
— PIB India (@PIB_India) July 18, 2026
In the non-feature category, Bhangaaar, directed by Sumira Roy, was adjudged Best Non-Feature Film, while the Marathi short film Hamasafar won the Best Short Film award. Anand L. Rai received the Best Direction (Non-Feature) award for Statue of Unity – Ekta Ka Prateek.
For feature films, Rajkumar Periasamy was honoured with the Best Director award for the Tamil blockbuster Amaran. Sanjay Mishra won Best Supporting Actor, while Sachana Namidass and Ropashree Varkady shared the Best Supporting Actress award.
Shashwat Sachdev and G.V. Prakash Kumar were named Best Music Directors, while Abhay Jodhpurkar and Vaikom Vijayalakshmi received the Best Playback Singer awards.
Among other major honours, Kalki 2898 AD won Best Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Captain Miller was recognised as the Best Film Promoting National and Social Values, and Telugu film Chinna Katha Kaadu bagged the Best Children’s Film award.
In the writing category, Sanjeev Srivastava was named Best Film Critic, while K. Pradeep Kumar Shetty won Best Writing on Cinema for his Kannada book Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemaada Thathva Matthu Rajakeeya.
Regional cinema also shone at the awards, with Maaran (Gujarati), Lahari (Odia), Mithya (Kannada), Sunita (Manipuri), and Dholi (Garhwali) winning the top honours in their respective language categories.
