The National Film Awards broke a seven-decade tradition by moving the main presentation ceremony away from the national capital. The 72nd National Film Awards took place at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat instead of its traditional venue at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. This historic relocation represents a permanent shift in how the country honours its cinematic achievements.
According to an official release by the Press Information Bureau, future editions of the gala will travel beyond New Delhi to various states and cities across the country. The central government introduced this restructuring to decentralise major national celebrations and bring the highest film honours closer to different regions. Holding the ceremony at Ekta Nagar, near the 182-metre Statue of Unity, is intended to bring together cinematic artists from all language industries and embody the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards to 92 winners across various categories, including feature films, non-feature films, and writing on cinema. The event marked the first time since the inception of the awards in 1954 that the main ceremony traveled to another state, with the exception of the 17th edition held in Chennai in 1971.
Decentralising National Celebrations
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other official representatives attended the gathering, which showcased the growing focus on regional representation. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting indicated that rotating the venue annually will allow different states to host the prestigious gathering. This policy is designed to give regional film cultures equal prominence on the national stage.
The selection of Ekta Nagar as the inaugural venue outside New Delhi highlights the strategy of pairing national cultural honours with major landmarks. The location provided a unique backdrop for filmmakers, actors, and technicians from across India. Industry producers and policymakers noted that moving the event helps distribute cultural tourism and recognition across multiple regions rather than restricting it to a single city.
Major Honours of the 72nd Edition
The ceremony recognised outstanding achievements for films certified during the year 2024. Veteran actor Anant Nag received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his five decades of contributions to Indian cinema. The selection panel highlighted his extensive work across multiple language industries as a reflection of national cinema unity.
In the feature film categories, Article 370 won the award for Best Feature Film. Yami Gautam secured the Best Actress award for her leading role in the same movie, while Shashwat Sachdev won for Best Music Direction. The Best Actor honour was shared by Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion.
Director Rajkumar Periasamy won the Best Direction award for the Tamil film Amaran. In the non-feature category, the Marathi film Bhangaar won Best Non-Feature Film, and filmmaker Aanand L Rai won Best Direction for a non-feature work titled Statue of Unity Ekta ka Prateek. The event also marked a historical milestone with a Santhali film named Angen, directed by Ravi Raj Murmu, winning the Best Debut Film of a Director in the non-feature category.