72nd National Film Awards: Article 370 Wins Best Feature, Mammootty Wins Best Actor

Bollywood film Article 370 starring actor Yami Gautam was adjudged the best feature film; Malayalam superstar Mammootty won his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Bramayugam

Bollywood film Article 370, based on the events surrounding the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019, was adjudged the best feature film at the 72nd National Film Awards on Saturday (July 18, 2026).

Announcing the awards, the chairman of the central jury Jayaraj said that the trophy for the best popular film went to the Telugu film Kalki 2898 AD.

Highlights of the 72nd National Film Awards

Malayalam superstar Mammootty won his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Bramayugam, sharing the honor with Karthik Aaryan who was awarded for Champion Chandu. Mammootty has previously won the Best Actor award for his roles in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha and Mathilukal (1989), Ponthan Mada and Vidheyan (1994) and Dr. Arun Kumar. Ambedkar (1999). Yami Gautam Dhar was named Best Actress for her performance in the article

Rajkumar Periasamy won the best director award for Amaran, a war biopic starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi. The film depicts the life of Major Mukund Varadarajan, an officer in the Indian Army’s Rajput Regiment, who was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra. Music composer GV Prakash Kumar won the award for Best Music Direction for the score in the film Amaran.

Randeep Hooda won the Best Debut Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. The biographical drama chronicles the life of Hindutva ideologue Vinayaka Damodar Savarkar, tracing his early revolutionary activities and the torture he underwent in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands.

Acclaimed Tamil drama Meiyazhagan received a special mention for its sound mix. The film is directed by C. Prem Kumar and stars Karthi and Arvind Swamy in lead roles.

Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa 2 bagged two awards as Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma bagged the award for Best Costume Design while director Sukumar was awarded for Best Screenplay.

Actor Dhanush received special recognition for his performance in the Tamil film Captain Miller.

Feminichi Fathima’s satirical drama was adjudged the best Malayalam film. The film criticizes the patriarchal and religious restrictions placed on women.

Mithya won the Best Kannada Film award while Raayan, directed by Dhanush and produced by Sun Pictures, was adjudged the Best Tamil Film.

Published – 18 Jul 2026 20:26 IST