Malayalam cinema veteran Mammootty and Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan jointly won the Best Actor in a Leading Role honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony. The event took place at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, marking a historic shift as the national film honours were hosted outside New Delhi for the first time in over seven decades. President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious Rajat Kamal medals to the winners for films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification in 2024.
Mammootty secured his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance as the enigmatic Kodumon Potti in the period horror film Bramayugam. His portrayal of a menacing, authoritative figure in the black-and-white cinematic venture earned him a standing ovation from the audience. In his acceptance statement, the legendary actor expressed deep appreciation, noting that receiving his fourth national trophy remains incredibly special and serves as a major source of encouragement.
Kartik Aaryan achieved his first-ever National Film Award for his portrayal of Murlikant Petkar in the sports biopic Chandu Champion. Directed by Kabir Khan, the film traces the emotional and physical transformation of an athlete who overcomes monumental odds. Aaryan visited the nearby Statue of Unity ahead of the presentation and expressed his immense gratitude to the jury and his team upon receiving the silver lotus.
Major Category Winners and Historic Venue Shift
The ceremony at Ekta Nagar brought multiple regional and mainstream blockbusters onto a unified national platform. Alongside the joint Best Actor winners, Yami Gautam received the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her work in the political thriller Article 370, which was also named the Best Feature Film. Director Rajkumar Periasamy took home the Best Direction award for the Tamil biographical action drama Amaran. Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, honoring his cinematic career spanning over five decades.
The choice of Gujarat as the host province aligned with national cultural outreach goals, breaking a multi-decade tradition of hosting the event at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed the gathering, congratulating the creative and technical talent behind the scenes who continue to shape the evolution of Indian cinema.