NEW DELHI, SEPT 22: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday presented the 72nd National Film Awards at a ceremony held at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, honouring outstanding achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024.
She also conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 on veteran actor Anant Nag for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
The ceremony marked a significant departure from tradition as the National Film Awards were presented outside Delhi for the first time, with Ekta Nagar, near the Statue of Unity, chosen as the venue.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu congratulated the award winners and said Indian cinema reflects the dreams, traditions and struggles of the people, while also presenting possibilities for the country’s future.
She said Anant Nag’s performances represented a synthesis of theatre and cinema and praised his natural, restrained and authentic style of acting, describing his journey as an example for future generations of artists.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 to Anant Nag, recognising his more than five-decade contribution to Indian cinema.
The award was announced earlier in September following the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee.
Born in Karnataka, Anant Nag began his acting journey in theatre before entering Kannada cinema and subsequently working extensively across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil and Marathi films.
According to the government, he has acted in more than 300 films and has also been associated with television, including the widely known Malgudi Days. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2025.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969 to commemorate the contribution of Dadasaheb Phalke, who directed Raja Harishchandra, India’s first full-length feature film. The award carries a Swarna Kamal medallion, a shawl and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh.
Receiving the honour, Anant Nag reflected on his long journey from theatre to cinema and acknowledged the contribution of filmmakers, technicians, co-workers and audiences to his career. He said the award belonged not only to him but also to the many people who had worked with him throughout his journey.
Among the major honours at the 72nd National Film Awards, Aditya Suhas Jambhale’s Article 370 was named Best Feature Film. The film also brought the Best Actress in a Leading Role award to Yami Gautam.
The Best Actor in a Leading Role award was shared by Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion. Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Direction for the Tamil film Amaran.
Kalki 2898 AD was honoured as the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, while Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Film of a Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
In the non-feature category, Bhangaar was named Best Non-Feature Film, while Ram-Nami won Best Documentary.
President Murmu also highlighted the considerable influence of cinema personalities, particularly among young people. She said successful artists can encourage millions of children and youth to adopt positive and disciplined lifestyles and urged celebrities to avoid endorsing products that could be harmful to health.
She said the celebration at Ekta Nagar, close to the Statue of Unity and the Wall of Unity, also carried a symbolic message of India’s cultural unity, noting that cinema brings together the country’s diverse languages, regions and traditions.
The 72nd National Film Awards, instituted in 1954, recognise excellence across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema. This edition covers films certified during 2024, with the winners having been announced in July before receiving their honours from the President at Tuesday’s ceremony.
