The 72nd National Film Awards are being presented at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat on Tuesday, marking the first time the prestigious ceremony has moved outside New Delhi.

The ceremony is being held near the Statue of Unity, giving the annual celebration of Indian cinema a new setting. President Droupadi Murmu is presenting the awards to filmmakers, actors and technicians who have been recognised for their work in films released during the 2024 eligibility year.

The event begins at 3 pm, with the red carpet starting earlier in the afternoon. The ceremony is also being streamed live on the DD National YouTube channel, allowing audiences to watch the presentation online.

Among the biggest names being honoured this year is veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag, who will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024. The award recognises his contribution to Indian cinema over a career spanning more than five decades.

The acting honours have also brought together some of the biggest stars from different film industries. Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan are sharing the Best Actor award. Mammootty has been recognised for his performance in the Malayalam film Bramayugam, while Kartik Aaryan has been honoured for Chandu Champion.

Yami Gautam has won Best Actress for Article 370, which has also been named Best Feature Film. The film, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, emerged as one of the major winners of the 72nd National Film Awards.

The Best Director award has gone to Rajkumar Periasamy for the Tamil film Amaran. The film was among the notable releases from the 2024 award cycle and has been recognised for its direction.

Kalki 2898 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin, has won the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film, starring Prabhas, was one of the year’s biggest commercial releases and has now added a National Award to its recognition.

Randeep Hooda has received the Best Debut Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. Other films and artists from different languages have also found a place among the winners, underlining the wide reach of the National Film Awards.

The Malayalam film industry has a notable presence this year. Along with Mammootty’s Best Actor win for Bramayugam, Feminichi Fathima has been recognised as the Best Malayalam Film. The honours add to a strong showing by regional cinema at this year’s awards.

Other major winners include Pushpa: The Rule, which has received awards for Best Costume Designer and Best Screenplay (Original). Stree 2 has won Best Choreography, while Maharaja has been recognised for Best Action Direction. Srikanth has been named Best Hindi Film.

The awards are not limited to mainstream commercial cinema. The National Film Awards cover feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema, recognising creative and technical work across India’s many film industries and languages. The 72nd edition includes films from languages such as Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Marathi, Santhali, Tulu and Garhwali.

The ceremony’s move to Gujarat is one of the biggest changes this year. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided that future editions will also be held in different states and cities rather than following the long-standing Delhi tradition. The government has linked the move to the idea of bringing national recognition for cinema closer to different parts of the country.

The National Film Awards were instituted in 1954 and have since become one of India’s key platforms for recognising excellence in cinema. They honour not only actors and directors but also technicians, writers, musicians, cinematographers and other professionals whose work shapes filmmaking.

The 72nd edition was announced in July 2026, although the awards relate to films certified during 2024. This explains why films released two years earlier are being honoured at a ceremony held in 2026.

With the Statue of Unity providing the backdrop, this year’s ceremony combines a celebration of India’s film heritage with a new approach to where the country’s biggest cinema honours are presented. From veteran performers such as Anant Nag and Mammootty to younger stars such as Kartik Aaryan and Yami Gautam, the event brings together different generations and languages of Indian cinema on one national stage.