The 72nd National Film Awards, announced on Saturday in Mumbai, celebrated excellence across Indian cinema, with actors Mammootty, Yami Gautam, Kartik Aaryan, Dhanush, Randeep Hooda, and others expressing heartfelt gratitude for their honours. The awards, presented by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, recognised achievements in films released in 2024, spanning diverse languages, genres, and themes.
Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan share best actor
Veteran Malayalam actor Mammootty and Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan jointly won the Best Actor Award. Mammootty was honoured for his menacing role in the period folk horror film Bramayugam, directed by Rahul Sadasivan. This marks his fourth National Award. On social media, he thanked his team and congratulated fellow winners, while actor-politician Kamal Haasan praised his friend, recalling Mammootty’s promise to surpass him in award count.
Aaryan won for Chandu Champion, directed by Kabir Khan, where he portrayed India’s first Paralympic gold medallist, Murlikant Petkar. Overwhelmed by his first National Award, Aaryan said he was “still processing” the honour, calling it a dream fulfilled. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala described the win as a moment of “pure joy and immense pride” for the team.
Kamal Haasan’s Kalki 2898 AD wins popular film
Haasan’s Telugu sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin, won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Haasan congratulated the cast and crew, saying Indian cinema is richer because of their excellence. Production house Vyjayanthi Films called the recognition a “celebration” of every artiste and technician, promising that the sequel Kalki 2 will be worth the wait.
Dhanush wins double honours
Actor-filmmaker Dhanush received two awards: one for his directorial venture Raayan and another for his performance in Captain Miller. He described the recognition for Captain Miller as especially meaningful, calling it his finest performance to date. The Special Mention, he said, made the honour even more personal.
Yami Gautam’s First National Award
Yami Gautam won her first National Award for her role as an intelligence officer in Article 370, a political drama based on the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The film also won Best Feature Film for director Aditya Suhas Jambhale and Best Music Direction for Shashwat Sachdev. Gautam, who recently completed 14 years in Hindi cinema, called the award a culmination of perseverance and dedication. She emphasised that it was not the end of a dream but the beginning of greater responsibility, urging artists to keep telling stories that matter.
Her husband, filmmaker Aditya Dhar, described the recognition as “deeply humbling,” crediting the film’s success to its cast, crew, and audiences. Director Jambhale, receiving his third National Award, said the honour was overwhelming. Jyoti Deshpande of Jio Studios termed the triple win an “incredibly emotional moment.”
Randeep Hooda honoured for directorial debut
Actor Randeep Hooda won Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, a film he also co-wrote and starred in. Hooda described it as the most demanding project of his career, thanking his team for their support. He said the recognition belongs to everyone involved and hoped it would inspire younger generations to reflect on Savarkar’s legacy.
Sanjay Mishra wins best supporting actor
Veteran actor Sanjay Mishra received the Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Bhakshak, a Netflix film starring Bhumi Pednekar that exposes child abuse in a shelter home. Mishra, who played a small-town cameraman, said the honour touched his heart deeply. Pednekar congratulated him on Instagram, calling him a “force of nature.”
Rajkummar Rao’s Srikanth wins best film
The Best Film Award went to Srikanth – Aa Raha Hai Sabki Aankhein Kholne, starring Rajkummar Rao as visually-impaired industrialist Srikanth Bolla. Directed by Tushar Hiranandani and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Nidhi Parmar Hiranandani, the film was praised as a tribute to Bolla’s inspiring life. Hiranandani said making Srikanth was one of the most fulfilling journeys of his career, while Bhushan Kumar credited Bolla’s story for inspiring audiences nationwide.
Collective celebration of Indian cinema
The 72nd National Film Awards highlighted the diversity and depth of Indian cinema in 2024. From Mammootty’s commanding performance in Malayalam cinema to Gautam’s breakthrough in Hindi political drama, and from Aaryan’s portrayal of a Paralympic hero to Hooda’s ambitious directorial debut, the honours reflected the industry’s evolving narratives and artistic courage. (PTI)
