Published Jul 18, 2026 | 8:06 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 18, 2026 | 9:07 PM
Mammootty in Bhramayugam.
Synopsis: Mammootty, Kartik Aryan, Yami Gautam, Vaikom Vijayalakshmi and several others win big at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Malayalam megastar Mammootty bagged the National Award for Best Male Actor for his performance in Rahul Sadasivan-directed Bhramayugam. This is his fourth national award.
He will share the award with Kartik Aryan, who won it for his portrayal of Murlikant Petkar in the biographical sports drama Chandu Champion.
Mammootty as Kodumon Potti/Chathan in Bhramayugam.
Earlier this year, Mammootty was conferred the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, in recognition of his “distinguished service of high order”.
He also secured his ninth Kerala State Film Award, winning Best Actor for his chilling performance in Bramayugam.
Mammootty won his first National Film Award for Best Actor in 1990 for Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha and Mathilukal. In 1994, he secured his second National Film Award for Best Actor for his performances in Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Vidheyan and TV Chandran’s Ponthan Mada. In 1999, Mammootty received his third National Film Award for Best Actor for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (English).
Article 370, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, has been selected as the Best Feature Film. Yami Gautam Dhar’s performance as NIA officer Zooni Haskar in the same film won her the Best Female Actor award.
Rajkumar Periasamy, who directed the Tamil movie Amaran, is the Best Director.
Vaikom Vijayalakshmi’s rendition of Angu Vaana Konilu in the movie Ajayante Randam Moshanam (ARM) won her the Best Female Singer Award.
Yami Gautam (Best Female Actor) in Article 370 (Best feature Film).
Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj, the Chairman of the 11-member awards jury, announced the 72nd National Film Awards in New Delhi on Saturday, 18 July. The jury considered movies certified by the Central Board of Film Certification between 1 January and 31 December 2024.
Shehnad Jalal, who cranked the camera for the horror-thriller Bhramayugam is the Best Cinematographer. Fasil Muhammad-directed Feminichi Fathima is the Best Malayalam Movie in the feature film category.
In the non-feature film category, Bhadra-Kali Natakam directed by Ananda Jyothi (Jose Antony) won the jury’s special mention.
Suren G in Meiyazhagan.
Dhanush and Suren G won the jury’s special mention for their performances in Tamil movies Captain Miller and Meiyazhagan, respectively.
Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva Matthu Rajakeeya (I Stand for You, the State Stands for Us: Political and Philosophical Dimensions of Kannada Cinema) by Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty won the Best Book on Cinema Award.
Full list of national awards:
Best Feature Film: Article 370
Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion, Mammootty for Bramayugam
Kartik Aaryan in Chandu Champion
Best Actress: Yami Gautam, Article 370
Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy, Amaran
Best Supporting Actress: Ropashree Varkady for Mithya, Sachana Namidass for Maharaja
Best Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra, Bhakshak
Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD
Best Film Promoting National, Social Values: Captain Miller
Best Child Artist: Riddhiman Banerjee, Tapomoy Deb, Gitashree Chakraborty, Arundev Pothula, Athish S Shetty
Best Cinematography: Bramayugam, Shehnad Jalaal
Best Screenplay: Pushpa 2, Sukumar
Best Dialogue Writer: Lucky Baskhar, Venky Atluri
A still from Feminichi Fathima.
Best Production Design: Kalki 2898 AD
Best Action Direction: Anl Arasu, Maharaja
Best Make-Up Artist: Committee Kurrollu
Best Costume Design: Pushpa 2; Deepali Noor & Sheetal Sharma
Best Music Direction for Songs: Article 370, Shashwat Sachdev
Best Background Music: GV Prakash, Amaran
Best Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir, Maidaan
Best Male Playback Singer: Abhay Jodhpurkar, Gharat Ganpati from Navasachi Gauri Mazi
Best Female Playback Singer: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi for Angu Vaana Konilu from ARM
Vaikom Vijayalakshmi. Best Female Playback Singer.
Best Choreography: Vijay Ganguly, Stree 2
Best Sound Design: Manas Choudhury, Bhool Bhulaiya 3
Best Editing: R Kalaivannan, Amaran
Best Assamese Film: Juiphool
Best Bengali Film: Chalchitra Ekhon
Best Hindi Film: Srikanth
Best Kannada Film: Mithya
Best Malayalam Film: Feminichi Fathima
Best Marathi Film: Mukkam Post Bombilwadi
Best Odia Film: Lahari
Best Tamil Film: Raayan
Best Garhwali Film: Dholi
Best Telugu Film: Committee Kurrollu
Dhanush in Captain Miller.
Best Gujarati Film: Maaran
Best Manipuri Film: Sunita
Best Konakani Film: Mog Asum
Best Tulu Film: IMBU
Special Mention – Dhanush for Captain Miller and Suren G for Meiyazhagan.
Best Film Critic: Sanjeev Shrivastava (Hindi)
Best Book on Cinema: Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva Matthu Rajakeeya (I Stand for You, the State Stands for Us: Political and Philosophical Dimensions of Kannada Cinema) by Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty
Special Mention: Bhadra-Kali Natakam (Bhadra – The Dance of Kali) (Malayalam) – Director: Ananda Jyothi (Jose Antony)
Special Mention: Chola Dora aur Sui (Hindi) – Directors: Jaymin Modi & Lokesh Ghai
Best Narrator/Voice Over: Soundarya Jayachandran – Little Planet: A Tale of Frogs (English)
Best Music Direction: Shivpal Singh Kang — Parat 41°chya Magavar (On the Trail of 41°) (Marathi)
Best Editing: Manvir Jasrotia — NDA (Hindi)
Best Sound Design: TS Hari Hara Sudhan: Blue (Tamil)
Best Cinematography: Edmond Ranson – Life in Loom (English, Tamil, Hindi, Assamese & Bengali)
Best Direction: Aanand L Rai – Statue of Unity – Ekta ka Prateek (Hindi)
Best Short Film (Up to 30 Minutes): Hamsafar (Marathi) – Producer: Anushka Motion Pictures & Entertainments; Director: Abhijeet Arvind Dalvi
Best Animation Film: Touched as Water (Silent) – Producer: JB Productions; Director & Animator: Joshy Benedict
Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values: Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism (Hindi, Rajasthani & English) – Producer: Johnsons Suraj Films International; Director: Suraj Kumar
Best Documentary: Ram-Nami (Hindi) – Producer: BBP Studio Virtual Bharat Pvt. Ltd.; Director: Bharatbala Ganapathy
Best Arts/Culture Film: Main Nida (Hindi) – Producer: Sampreshan Multimedia Pvt. Ltd.; Director: Atul Pandey
Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film: Kakori (Hindi) – Producer: KSR Brothers & Minti Mishra; Director: Kamlesh K Mishra
Best Debut Film of a Director: Angen (Invisible) (Santhali) – Director: Ravi Raj Murmu
Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar (Obsolete) (Marathi & English) – Producer & Director: Sumira Roy.
