National Film Awards 2026 winners' list: Kartik Aaryan shares Best Actor award with Mammootty, Randeep Hooda wins for Swatantra Veer Savarkar

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the winners of the 72nd National Film Awards on Saturday, honouring the best of Indian cinema across feature, non-feature and writing categories.

Political drama Article 370 emerged as the biggest winner, taking home Best Feature Film, while its lead star Yami Gautam was named Best Actress. The Best Actor honour was shared by Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion. Randeep Hooda also emerged as a winner, but as a director for his debut film Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.

Here's the complete list of winners.

Best Feature Film

Winner: Article 370

Best Director

Winner: Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran)

Best Actor

Winners: Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion)

Best Actress

Winner: Yami Gautam (Article 370)

Best Supporting Actor

Winner: Sanjay Mishra (Bhakshak)

Best Supporting Actress

Winners: Sachana Namidass (Maharaja) and Ropashree Varkady (Mithya)

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Best Debut Director

Winner: Randeep Hooda (Swatantrya Veer Savarkar)

Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment

Winner: Kalki 2898 AD

Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values

Winner: Captain Miller

Best Children's Film

Winner: 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu

Technical awards

Best Cinematography

Winner: Shehnad Jalal (Bramayugam)

Best Editing

Winner: R. Kalaivannan (Amaran)

Best Original Screenplay

Winner: Bandreddi Sukumar (Pushpa: The Rule Part 2)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner: Yogesh Deshpande (Swargandharva Sudhir Phadke)

Best Dialogue

Winner: Venky Atluri (Lucky Baskhar)

Best Sound Design

Winner: Manas Choudhury (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3)

Best Production Design

Winner: Nitin Zihani Choudhary (Kalki 2898 AD)

Best Make-up

Winner: P. Ravi Kumar (Committee Kurrollu)

Best Costume Design

Winners: Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma (Pushpa: The Rule Part 2)

Best Music Direction (Songs)

Winner: Shashwat Sachdev (Article 370)

Best Background Score

Winner: G.V. Prakash Kumar (Amaran)

Best Lyrics

Winner: Manoj Muntashir (Maidaan)

Best Choreography

Winner: Vijay Ganguly (Stree 2)

Best Action Direction

Winner: Anl Arasu (Maharaja)

Best Male Playback Singer

Winner: Abhay Jodhpurkar (Gharat Ganpati)

Best Female Playback Singer

Winner: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi (A.R.M.)

Regional language winners

Best Assamese Film

Winner: Juiphool

Best Bengali Film

Winner: Chalchitra Ekhon

Best Gujarati Film

Winner: Maaran

Best Hindi Film

Winner: Srikanth

Best Kannada Film

Winner: Mithya

Best Konkani Film

Winner: Mog Asum

Best Malayalam Film

Winner: Feminichi Fathima

Best Manipuri Film

Winner: Sunita

Best Marathi Film

Winner: Mukkam Post Bombilwadi

Best Odia Film

Winner: Lahari

Best Tamil Film

Winner: Raayan

Best Telugu Film

Winner: Committee Kurrollu

Best Garhwali Film

Winner: Dholi

Best Tulu Film

Winner: Imbu

Special mentions (Feature)

Non-feature film awards

Best Non-Feature Film

Winner: Bhangaar

Best Documentary

Winner: Ram-Nami

Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction Film

Winner: Kakori

Best Arts and Culture Film

Winner: Main Nida

Best Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values

Winner: Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism

Best Animation Film

Winner: Touched as Water

Best Short Film

Winner: Hamsafar

Best Direction (Non-Feature)

Winner: Aanand L. Rai (Statue of Unity – Ekta Ka Prateek)

Best Cinematography (Non-Feature)

Winner: Edmond Ranson (Life in Loom)

Best Sound Design (Non-Feature)

Winner: T.S. Hari Hara Sudhan (Blue)

Special Mentions (Non-Feature)

Best Writing on Cinema

Best Book on Cinema

Winner: Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva Matthu Rajakeeya by Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty

Best Film Critic

Winner: Sanjeev Shrivastava