72nd National Film Awards 2026: Yami Gautam, Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty Honoured for Their Performances
The 72nd National Film Awards have once again placed the spotlight on the diversity and creative strength of Indian cinema. The prestigious ceremony was held on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours to several artists and filmmakers. Among the prominent names recognised this year were Kartik Aaryan, Mammootty and Yami Gautam.
The recognition is significant not only for the individual winners but also for the films and stories they represented. Their awards highlight performances across different genres, languages and filmmaking traditions, showing the broad reach of Indian cinema.
72nd National Film Awards Held in Gujarat
The National Film Awards have been an important part of India's film culture since they were established in 1954. They recognise achievements across feature films, non-feature films and cinema-related writing.
The 72nd edition brought an additional point of interest by being conducted at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, rather than Delhi. The venue, located near the Statue of Unity, also connected the national celebration of cinema with one of India's major tourist destinations.
The ceremony recognised films released during 2024 and brought together performers and creative professionals from several Indian film industries.
A Celebration Across Languages
One of the defining characteristics of the National Film Awards is their ability to recognise work from different regional industries. The 2026 awards included achievements connected with Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and several other languages.
This makes the event more than a Bollywood-focused awards ceremony. It provides national recognition to filmmakers whose work may originally have been created for a particular linguistic or regional audience.
Kartik Aaryan Wins Best Actor for Chandu Champion
Kartik Aaryan received the Best Actor honour for his performance in Chandu Champion. The award marks his first National Film Award and represents an important milestone in his career.
Chandu Champion is centred on a sportsman and draws attention to the determination required to overcome significant challenges. The film's subject also helped bring the stories of Paralympic athletes and sporting resilience into mainstream cinematic discussion.
Kartik's recognition gives additional attention to the film and its central character. For an actor who has become widely known through commercial Hindi cinema, a National Award also represents recognition from one of the country's most prominent official film honours.
Why the Recognition Matters
Awards at the national level can influence how audiences revisit a film. Viewers who may not have watched Chandu Champion earlier could become curious about the performance following the announcement.
The recognition can also encourage mainstream filmmakers and performers to explore stories involving sporting achievements, determination and individuals who overcome difficult circumstances.
Mammootty Adds Another National Award to His Career
Malayalam cinema veteran Mammootty was also honoured with the Best Actor award for Bramayugam. His win adds another major national recognition to an already celebrated career.
Bramayugam offered Mammootty a distinctive role within a period horror setting. The film relied heavily on atmosphere, characterisation and visual storytelling rather than conventional commercial formulas.
Mammootty's achievement is particularly notable because it demonstrates the continuing national recognition of performances originating from regional cinema.
A Long Association With Indian Cinema
Mammootty has worked across decades and has appeared in films covering a wide range of characters and genres. His National Award recognition for Bramayugam adds another chapter to that career.
For audiences familiar with Malayalam cinema, the honour also underlines the industry's contribution to Indian filmmaking. Malayalam films have frequently attracted attention nationally for their writing, performances and distinctive storytelling approaches.
Yami Gautam Receives Best Actress Honour
Yami Gautam was honoured with the Best Actress award for Article 370. Her recognition adds another major achievement to the film, which also received the Best Feature Film award at the 72nd National Film Awards.
The film deals with a politically and historically significant subject and combines its central storyline with elements of drama and action.
Yami's award places attention on the performance at the heart of the film. It also adds to the growing visibility of women-led performances in contemporary Hindi cinema.
Article 370 Gets Wider Recognition
The film's success at the National Film Awards extends beyond its acting category. It was recognised as the Best Feature Film, while other awards associated with the movie included music-related recognition.
Such recognition can increase interest in films that combine entertainment with subjects connected to India's recent history and public affairs.
Other Major Winners at the 72nd National Film Awards
The ceremony recognised achievements in numerous categories beyond the three headline acting honours.
Rajkumar Periasamy received the Best Director award for Amaran. The Best Supporting Actor honour went to Sanjay Mishra for Bhakshak, while Ropashree Varkady and Sachana Namidass were recognised in the Best Supporting Actress category for Mithya and Maharaja, respectively.
Kalki 2898 AD received the award for Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and was also recognised in production design.
Other notable winners included Pushpa 2 for screenplay and costume-related categories, Raayan as the Best Tamil Film, Committee Kurrollu as the Best Telugu Film and Srikanth as the Best Hindi Film.
This broad spread of awards illustrates the range of filmmaking that received national attention.
What These Awards Could Mean for Indian Cinema
National recognition can influence a film's visibility long after its theatrical or streaming release. Award-winning performances often attract renewed audience interest and can encourage viewers to explore films they previously overlooked.
The recognition of Kartik Aaryan, Mammootty and Yami Gautam also demonstrates that performers from different stages of their careers can receive national attention for very different kinds of roles.
Encouraging Diverse Storytelling
The awards can potentially encourage producers and filmmakers to invest in stories outside conventional formulas. When films featuring historical subjects, sports stories, regional narratives and experimental storytelling receive recognition, they demonstrate that audiences can connect with a broad range of cinematic themes.
Strengthening Regional Cinema
Mammootty's recognition for a Malayalam film is part of a larger pattern in which regional cinema continues to receive national attention.
The National Film Awards provide a platform where achievements are considered across India's many film industries. This helps create greater visibility for films that might otherwise remain primarily within their regional markets.
Why the 2026 Ceremony Is Significant for Movie Fans
For movie lovers, the 72nd National Film Awards provide an opportunity to look beyond box-office numbers and popular trends.
Commercial success and national recognition measure different aspects of cinema. A film can attract large audiences because of its entertainment value, while an award may highlight acting, writing, direction, cinematography, editing or another specific creative achievement.
The 2026 winners therefore offer audiences a useful selection of films and performances to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who received the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards?
Kartik Aaryan received the Best Actor award for Chandu Champion, while Mammootty was also honoured in the Best Actor category for Bramayugam.
Who won the Best Actress award?
Yami Gautam received the Best Actress honour for Article 370.
Which film won Best Feature Film?
Article 370 was recognised as the Best Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Where were the 72nd National Film Awards held?
The ceremony was held at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, near the Statue of Unity.
Which film won the Best Telugu Film award?
Committee Kurrollu received the Best Telugu Film award.
Why are the National Film Awards important?
The National Film Awards recognise achievements across India's diverse film industries and provide national-level recognition for excellence in acting, direction, writing, technical crafts and other areas of cinema.
Conclusion
The 72nd National Film Awards have highlighted the breadth and variety of Indian cinema. Kartik Aaryan's first National Award for Chandu Champion, Mammootty's recognition for Bramayugam and Yami Gautam's Best Actress honour for Article 370 were among the major moments of the ceremony.
At the same time, awards across regional languages and technical categories showed that Indian cinema continues to evolve through different storytelling traditions. From Malayalam and Telugu films to Hindi, Tamil and Kannada productions, the ceremony offered a broad picture of the creative work being produced across the country.
For audiences, the awards provide more than a list of winners. They create an opportunity to discover performances, films and filmmaking techniques that contributed to Indian cinema during the year. As these titles reach new viewers through theatres, television and streaming platforms, the impact of the 72nd National Film Awards is likely to continue beyond the ceremony itself.