The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is scheduled for 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat’s Narmada district. The event will be held at the Statue of Unity complex and will honour 92 winners.
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards are among India’s highest official honours for cinema and are presented by the President of India. The awards were instituted in 1954 and are administered under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The 72nd ceremony will move outside New Delhi for the first time in more than five decades. The only earlier major relocation took place when Madras, now Chennai, hosted the 17th ceremony on 21 November 1970.
Venue and Event Arrangements
A temporary venue is being constructed in the Bus Bay area of the Statue of Unity complex. The structure will use a special German aluminium structural dome for the ceremony. The 75-minute event is planned for nearly 1,000 dignitaries and guests. The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Gujarat state government are organising the ceremony.
Awards and Major Winners
The National Film Development Corporation of India announced the winners on 18 July 2026. The political thriller Article 370 was selected as Best Feature Film. Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion and Mammootty for Bramayugam will share the Best Actor award. Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370. Aanand L Rai is scheduled to receive the award for Best Direction in the non-feature category for Statue of Unity–Ekta ka Prateek. The documentary is based on the Statue of Unity, which is the world’s tallest statue at 182 metres.
Important Facts for Exams
- The National Film Awards began in 1954 and are presented annually in India.
- The 17th National Film Awards were held in Madras on 21 November 1970.
- The Statue of Unity stands in Ekta Nagar in Gujarat’s Narmada district and measures 182 metres in height.
- The National Film Development Corporation of India is associated with film promotion and award administration in India.
Static GK on the Statue of Unity
The Statue of Unity is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. It is located on the Narmada river near Kevadia in Gujarat. The monument was inaugurated in 2018 and is a major landmark in western India. Ekta Nagar is the official name used for the area around the monument.
