President Droupadi Murmu Presents 72nd National Film Awards in Ekta Nagar; Anant Nag Honored with Dadasaheb Phalke Award

President Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. During the event, she congratulated all the award winners for their talent and hard work, noting that filmmaking is a collective effort. The President urged the winners to express gratitude for the contributions of their entire teams. She further highlighted that Indian cinema serves as a reflection of the country's diverse languages, traditions, and struggles.

During the ceremony, veteran actor Shri Anant Nag was honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2024) for his outstanding contribution to theater and cinema. While accepting the honor, Shri Anant Nag shared experiences from his early days in theater and expressed gratitude for the love received from the citizens of the country.

President Murmu appealed to the artists of the film industry to become sources of inspiration for the youth, adopt a disciplined lifestyle, and refrain from advertising substances harmful to health. She emphasized the need for respect and social security for small-scale artists and supporting members within the creative economy, while also calling for the ensuring of women's participation in all juries.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that the National Film Awards will now be organized at major tourist destinations across states and Union Territories to promote India's cultural diversity and tourism. He announced that the next edition of 'Waves' will be organized in October 2027. Additionally, he informed that the Prime Minister has approved the establishment of 15,000 creative labs across the country.

According to Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, entries were received this year for 400 feature films in 34 languages and 161 non-feature films in 24 languages, with awards presented across 22 feature and 23 non-feature categories.

The list of major award winners is as follows: - Best Actor (Leading Role): Jointly awarded to Mammootty (Film: Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Film: Chandu Champion). - Best Actress (Leading Role): Yami Gautam (Film: Article 370). - Best Feature Film: Article 370. - Best Popular Film (Complete Entertainment): Kalki 2898 AD. - Best Supporting Actor: Sanjay Mishra (Film: Bhakshak). - Best Supporting Actress: Jointly awarded to Sachana Namidas (Film: Maharaja) and Rupashree Varakkadi (Film: Mithya). - Best Direction: Rajkumar Periyasamy (Film: Amaran). - Best Feature Film (National, Social, and Environmental Value): Captain Miller.

Regional cinema also received recognition at the ceremony, with 'Dholi' declared the best Garhwali film and 'Imbu' the best Tulu film. Meanwhile, the Santhali film 'Angen' received the award for Best Debut Film. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel also praised the dignified event.