National Film Awards (India)

Overview

The National Film Awards are the government-administered film honors of India, presented by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The awards recognize excellence in Indian cinema across all regional languages and filmmaking traditions. The President of India presents the awards at a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on July 18, 2026, honoring films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during calendar year 2024. Article 370 (Hindi, starring Yami Gautam) won Best Feature Film. Mammootty won his fourth Best Actor award for Bramayugam (Malayalam), shared with Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion. Yami Gautam Dhar won Best Actress for Article 370. Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Director for Amaran.

The 71st National Film Awards, announced August 1, 2025, honored films from 2023. 12th Fail (Hindi, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra) won Best Feature Film. Shah Rukh Khan won his first-ever Best Actor award for Jawan, shared with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail. Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. The Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred on Mohanlal.

India produces more films per year than any other country, with major industries operating in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, and many other languages. The National Film Awards encompass all of these traditions, making the ceremony the most comprehensive recognition of Indian filmmaking achievement.

Eligibility and Submission Rules

Films must be certified by the CBFC between January 1 and December 31 of the relevant year to be eligible. For the 72nd National Film Awards (2024 films), the entry deadline was October 31, 2025, for online applications and November 6, 2025, for hard copy submissions. The entry fee is Rs. 11,800 (including 18% GST) for feature films and Rs. 5,900 (including 18% GST) for non-feature films, payable online at the time of submission.

Feature films must be over 72 minutes in duration, made in any Indian language, and shot in digital or video format. Non-feature films (documentary, newsreel, non-fiction, short fiction) are eligible for the Non-Feature Film Section. All films must carry English subtitles. Submissions require a DCP (unencrypted, DCI-compliant) or Blu-ray (region-free PAL) along with two DVD copies.

Only persons whose names appear on the credit titles and who normally reside and work in India are eligible for individual awards. For co-productions involving a foreign entity, at least one co-producer must be an Indian entity, the director must be an Indian national, the cast and technicians must be predominantly Indian nationals, and the title must be registered as an Indian film title. A maximum of 7 entries per producer or production company is allowed.

Applications must be submitted online through the NFA portal, with a stamped and signed hard copy sent to the National Film Awards Cell, Siri Fort Auditorium Complex, New Delhi. Full regulations are available at mib.gov.in.

Voting Process

A jury of film professionals, critics, and cultural figures selected by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting evaluates all eligible films. The 71st National Film Awards jury was chaired by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker. The 72nd was chaired by director Jayaraj. The jury system gives the awards a curatorial character that values artistic merit and social relevance alongside commercial achievement.

The awards are given in three sections: Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Best Writing on Cinema. The Feature Film section includes language-specific awards for each Indian language, ensuring that regional industries receive dedicated recognition. The 71st edition received 332 entries in feature films, 115 in non-feature films, 27 books, and 16 critics' submissions.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest cinema honor, is conferred annually for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. The recipient receives a Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal), a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh, a medallion, and a shawl. Recent recipients include Mithun Chakraborty (2022, presented at the 70th ceremony) and Mohanlal (2023, presented at the 71st ceremony).

Key Categories

Feature Film Section:

• Best Feature Film (Golden Lotus / Swarna Kamal) - top prize, Rs. 3,00,000 cash
• Best Direction - Rs. 2,50,000
• Best Actor and Best Actress (shared awards common) - Rs. 2,00,000 each
• Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress
• Best Child Artist
• Best Screenplay (original and adapted/dialogue)
• Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Design
• Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup
• Best Music Direction (songs and background score, separate awards)
• Best Male Playback Singer and Best Female Playback Singer
• Best Lyrics, Best Choreography
• Best Action Direction (stunt choreography)
• Best Feature Film in [Language] - separate awards for each Indian language
• Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment (Silver Lotus / Rajat Kamal)
• Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values
• Best Children's Film
• Best Debut Film of a Director
• Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comic)
• Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration

Non-Feature Film Section:

• Best Non-Feature Film
• Best Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Animated Film
• Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Design
• Best Music Direction, Best Narration/Voice Over

Best Writing on Cinema:

• Best Book on Cinema
• Best Film Critic

History

The National Film Awards were first presented in 1954, establishing the government's formal role in recognizing and promoting Indian cinema. The awards were created as part of a broader cultural policy that viewed cinema as a vehicle for national unity, education, and artistic expression in a newly independent India. Initially called "State Awards," they began with Gold Medals, certificates of merit, and Silver Medals for regional films.

Separate awards for artists and technicians were instituted in 1968, with Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar becoming the first Best Actress (then called Urvashi) and Best Actor (then called Bharat) winners. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was introduced in 1969.

The language-specific categories reflect India's constitutional recognition of linguistic diversity. The Tamil and Telugu film industries each produce more films annually than most national cinemas worldwide. The Malayalam and Bengali industries have traditions of critically acclaimed auteur filmmaking that regularly appear at international festivals. The 72nd edition demonstrated this diversity: Article 370 (Hindi) won Best Feature Film, Bramayugam (Malayalam) won Best Actor, Raayan (Tamil) won Best Tamil Film, Feminichi Fathima (Malayalam) won Best Malayalam Film, and Mithya (Kannada) won Best Kannada Film.

Business Impact for Filmmakers

For Indian filmmakers across all languages, a National Film Award represents the government's highest recognition. The award carries cultural weight that transcends regional industry boundaries and positions a filmmaker within the national cinematic conversation.

The language-specific categories ensure that filmmakers working in smaller language industries receive dedicated recognition alongside Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu professionals. A National Award for Best Film in a regional language can transform a filmmaker's career, opening doors to larger productions and co-productions across language industries. The 71st edition's recognition of Parking (Tamil) and Pookkaalam (Malayalam) alongside mainstream Hindi films like Jawan and 12th Fail demonstrates this cross-industry scope.

The cash prizes, while modest by industry standards (Rs. 3,00,000 for Best Feature Film, approximately $3,600), carry symbolic value that translates into industry leverage. The awards also influence India's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, with National Award results informing the selection process.

The pandemic caused a two-year delay in the awards cycle. The 70th ceremony (held October 2024) honored 2022 films, the 71st (announced August 2025) honored 2023 films, and the 72nd (announced July 2026) honored 2024 films. The cycle has now returned to a more regular cadence.

Recent Results (72nd National Film Awards, announced July 2026)

• Best Feature Film: Article 370 (Hindi)
• Best Actor (shared): Mammothy, Bramayugam / Kartik Aaryan, Chandu Champion
• Best Actress: Yami Gautam Dhar, Article 370
• Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy, Amaran
• Best Popular Film: Kalki 2898 AD (Telugu)
• Best Debut Director: Randeep Hooda, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
• Best Screenplay: Sukumar, Pushpa 2
• Best Costume Design: Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma, Pushpa 2
• Special Mention: Dhanush, Captain Miller; Meiyazhagan (sound mixing)
• Best Malayalam Film: Feminichi Fathima
• Best Tamil Film: Raayan
• Best Kannada Film: Mithya

Past Winners and What They Won With

The National Film Awards are India's most prestigious film honors, presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. The 71st National Film Awards ceremony was presided over by President Droupadi Murmu, who conferred awards including Best Screenplay to Deepak Kingrani for Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. Recent winners include Randeep Hooda (Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar), Sukumar (Best Screenplay for Pushpa 2), Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma (Best Costume Design for Pushpa 2), Dhanush (Special Mention for Captain Miller), Feminichi Fathima (Best Malayalam Film), Raayan (Best Tamil Film), and Mithya (Best Kannada Film). The awards cover categories across feature films, non-feature films, and best writing on cinema, with separate categories for regional language films including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, and others.

Eligibility Quirks That Trip People Up

The National Film Awards are judged by a jury appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals, with separate juries for feature films, non-feature films, and writing on cinema. The awards are distinct from the Filmfare Awards (voted by industry and public) and the IIFA Awards (voted by industry), representing government recognition rather than popular or industry consensus. The Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) is the top prize for Best Feature Film, with Silver Lotus (Rajat Kamal) awards for category winners. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest film honor for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema, is announced as part of the National Film Awards. The awards ceremony is held in New Delhi and presided over by the President of India, giving it the highest political and institutional visibility of any Indian film award. Films must have a censor certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification to be eligible. The regional language categories ensure that films from all major Indian film industries receive recognition.

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See Also

For understanding Indian cinema's place in the global film landscape, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue across international markets, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For evaluating festival and awards campaign costs, use the Ad Spend Break-Even Calculator.