National Film Awards 2026 Full Winners List: The 72nd National Film Awards winners was announced on Friday, celebrating the finest achievements in Indian cinema across feature films, regional cinema and non feature categories too. It is organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, to honor the movies that were certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Only films that received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, are eligible for this edition of the National Film Awards. The selection process was carried out by an 11-member jury headed by acclaimed filmmaker Jayaraj. The panel examined entries submitted from different regions of the country before preparing its final recommendations.
72nd National Film Awards 2026 winners revealed: full list of non-feature film honours, special mentions and top cinema accolades from across India.https://t.co/iRG07JZjCG pic.twitter.com/Wi1XJw4Za9
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This year’s honours saw Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty jointly winning the Best Actor award, while Yami Gautam received the Best Actress honour for her powerful performance in Article 370. Filmmaker Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Director for Amaran, while Kalki 2898 AD, Pushpa 2, Captain Miller and Srikanth were among the biggest winners across multiple categories.
National Film Awards 2026 Full Winners List
Major Awards
- Best Feature Film: Article 370
- Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion, Mammootty
- Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)
- Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran)
- Best Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra
- Best Supporting Actress: Ropashree Varkady and Sachana Namidass
- Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD
- Best Film Promoting National, Social Values: Captain Miller
- Best Child Artist: Riddhiman Banerjee, Tapomoy Deb and Gitashree Chakraborty
Technical Awards
- Best Cinematography: Bramayugam – Shehnad Jalaal
- Best Screenplay: Sukumar (Pushpa 2)
- Best Dialogue Writer: Venky Atluri (Lucky Baskhar)
- Best Production Design: Kalki 2898 AD
- Best Costume Design: Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma (Pushpa 2)
- Best Make-Up Artist: Committee Kurrollu
- Best Editing: R. Kalaivannan (Amaran)
- Best Sound Design: Manas Choudhury (Bhool Bhulaiya 3)
- Best Choreography: Stree 2
- Best Music Direction (Songs): Shashwat Sachdev (Article 370)
- Best Music Direction (Background Score): Amaran
- Best Male Playback Singer: Abhay Jodhpurkar (Gharat Ganpati from Navasachi Gauri Mazi)
- Best Female Playback Singer: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi (Angu Vaana Konilu from ARM)
Regional Film Winners
- Best Hindi Film: Srikanth
- Best Tamil Film: Raayan
- Best Telugu Film: Committee Kurrollu
- Best Malayalam Film: Feminichi Fathima
- Best Kannada Film: Mithya
- Best Marathi Film: Mukkam Post Bombilwadi
- Best Bengali Film: Chalchitra Ekhon
- Best Odia Film: Lahari
- Best Gujarati Film: Maaran
- Best Manipuri Film: Sunita
- Best Konkani Film: Mog Asum
Special Mentions
- Meiyazhagan – Film Sound Mix Engineer: Suren G
- Bhadra-Kali Natakam (Malayalam) – Director: Ananda Jyothi (Jose Antony)
- Chola Dora aur Sui (Hindi) – Directors: Jaymin Modi and Lokesh Ghai
Best Book on Cinema
- Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva Matthu Rajakeeya (I Stand for You, the State Stands for Us: Political and Philosophical Dimensions of Kannada Cinema) by Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty.
National Film Awards 2026 Full Winners List: Non-Feature Film Winners
- Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar (Obsolete)
- Best Debut Film of a Director: Angen (Invisible)
- Best Documentary: Ram-Nami
- Best Short Film: Hamsafar
- Best Animation Film: Touched as Water
- Best Arts/Culture Film: Main Nida
- Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction Film: Kakori
- Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values: Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism
Non-Feature Technical Awards
- Best Narrator/Voice Over: Soundarya Jayachandran
- Best Music Direction: Shivpal Singh Kang
- Best Editing: Manvir Jasrotia
- Best Sound Design: T. S. Hari Hara Sudhan
- Best Cinematography: Edmond Ranson
- Best Direction: Aanand L. Rai (Statue of Unity – Ekta ka Prateek)
- Best Film Critic: Sanjeev Shrivastava (Hindi)
