72nd National Film Awards Winners 2026: Mammootty & Kartik Aaryan Share Best Actor, Yami Gautam Wins Best Actress

72nd National Film Awards: Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan Share Best Actor; Yami Gautam Wins Best Actress

The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on Friday, 18 July 2026, celebrating the finest cinematic achievements from films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year. In a night of shared glory and breakthrough wins, Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan were jointly honoured as Best Actor, while Yami Gautam claimed the Best Actress trophy for her powerful performance in the political action-thriller Article 370.

The evening's top honour — Best Feature Film — also went to Article 370, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale. Meanwhile, Nag Ashwin's mythological sci-fi spectacle Kalki 2898 AD was recognised as the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, capping off a year that saw Indian cinema span genres from historical epics to futuristic blockbusters.

Major Acting Honours: Mammootty's Fourth, Kartik's First

For Mammootty, this marks his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor, a feat that underscores his enduring brilliance across decades. The Malayalam legend was recognised for his performance in Bramayugam, the acclaimed period horror drama. He previously won the honour for Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha and Mathilukal (1989), Ponthan Mada and Vidheyan (1994), and Dr Ambedkar (1999).

For Kartik Aaryan, the joint award for Chandu Champion represents a career-defining moment. His portrayal of a determined athlete overcoming extraordinary odds resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike, marking his maiden National Award win.

Yami Gautam's triumph as Best Actress in a Leading Role for Article 370 cements her position as one of Hindi cinema's most compelling performers. The political thriller, set against the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, required Gautam to navigate a complex emotional and physical landscape — a challenge she met with fierce conviction.

Best Feature Film: 'Article 370' Dominates

Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale and produced by Aditya Dhar, Article 370 weaves a fictional narrative of covert operations around the historic abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status in 2019. The film not only won Best Feature Film and Best Actress, but also earned Shashwat Sachdeva the Best Music Director award, making it one of the most decorated films of the evening.

'Kalki 2898 AD' and 'Amaran' Shine Bright

Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, and Disha Patani, won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The mythological sci-fi epic also earned Nitin Zihan Choudhary the award for Best Production Design.

The Tamil film Amaran, which narrates the real-life story of Major Mukund Varadarajan, an officer in the Indian Army's Rajput Regiment, won Best Direction for Rajkumar Periasamy. The Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi starrer also picked up awards for Best Music Direction (GV Prakash Kumar) and Best Editing (R Kalaivannan).

Complete List of Winners: 72nd National Film Awards

Feature Film Awards

Regional Feature Film Awards

Non-Feature Film Awards

Analysis: A Diverse and Deserving Lineup

The 72nd National Film Awards reflect the extraordinary diversity of contemporary Indian cinema. From the regional authenticity of Amaran and Bramayugam to the pan-Indian spectacle of Kalki 2898 AD and Pushpa 2, the winners span languages, genres, and budgets. The jury's decision to recognise both a veteran like Mammootty and a relatively younger star like Kartik Aaryan signals an appreciation for experience and evolution in equal measure.

Article 370's dominance — Best Film, Best Actress, Best Music Direction — underscores the growing appetite for politically charged, issue-based filmmaking in India. Meanwhile, Randeep Hooda's directorial debut win for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar highlights the continuing relevance of historical narratives in shaping national conversations.