72nd National Film Awards: Yami Gautam's Message For Outsiders, Mammootty And Dhanush Honoured

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Yami Gautam Dhar stood at Ekta Nagar on 22nd September holding her first National Film Award, and the first thing she thought of wasn't herself.

"I say this on the behalf of all those people who come with the lord of dreams to the city," she told reporters after receiving the Best Actress honour for Article 370 from President Droupadi Murmu. "You don't know what life has planned for you. All you could do is do your work with honesty, and one day you will reach your destination." It was a message aimed squarely at the outsiders - the actors, technicians and writers who arrive in Mumbai with no industry lineage, no shortcuts, and nothing but the work itself to stand on.

Photo Credit: X: @PTI_News @ANI

The 72nd National Film Awards marked a break from tradition in more ways than one. For the first time in decades, the ceremony was held outside New Delhi, at the foot of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Narmada district - a shift Gautam herself acknowledged. "Many film artistes from across the country, traditions and cultures gathered under one roof symbolising the importance of the Statue of Unity," she said.

VIDEO | Ekta Nagar, Gujarat: After attending the 72nd National Film Awards, actress Yami Gautam says, "I am still trying to soak in this moment. Its a great matter of pride and honour for any film artist who has worked all their life. There is still a lot left for me to learn in… pic.twitter.com/Uwng85iJah

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 22, 2026

Mammootty And Kartik Aaryan Share The Top Honour

Malayalam cinema's Mammootty and Bollywood's Kartik Aaryan jointly won the National Film Award for Best Actor - Mammootty for his transformative role in Bramayugam, and Aaryan for playing boxer Murlikant Petkar in the sports biopic Chandu Champion. It is Mammootty's fourth National Award and Aaryan's first, arriving after a career built almost entirely on commercial Hindi cinema.

VIDEO | Ekta Nagar, Gujarat: After attending the 72nd National Film Awards, actor Kartik Aaryan says, "I am very happy, and I am very thankful to Madam President. She addressed us so beautifully. I am speechless."

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) pic.twitter.com/ZmSr2IdCl4

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 22, 2026

Article 370 itself was named Best Feature Film, while Rajkumar Periasamy picked up Best Director for Amaran, the Tamil film that also earned GV Prakash Kumar the award for Best Background Score. Shashwat Sachdev won Best Music Direction for a song in Article 370.

Dhanush's Double Recognition

Actor-filmmaker Dhanush had reason to celebrate twice over. His Tamil drama Raayan was named Best Tamil Film, and he received a Special Mention in the Feature Films category for his performance in Captain Miller - a film that also won the award for Best Film Promoting National, Social Values.

Who Won What At National Awards

Several other honours were handed out across categories:

• Kalki 2898 AD - Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
• Chinna Katha Kaadu - Best Children's Film
• Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (Randeep Hooda) - Best Debut Director
• Amaran (Rajkumar Periasamy) - Best Director
• Amaran (GV Prakash Kumar) - Best Background Score
• Article 370 (Shashwat Sachdev) - Best Music Direction (Song)
• Stree 2 (Vijay Ganguly) - Best Choreography, for the song "Aaj Ki Raat"
• Maharaja (Anal Arasu) - Best Action Direction
• Pushpa 2: The Rule (Deepali Noor and Sheetal Sharma) - Best Costume Design
• Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (Manas Choudhary) - Best Sound Design
• Committee Kurrollu (P Ravi Kumar) - Best Make-Up Artist
• Anant Nag - Dadasaheb Phalke Award, for a career spanning over five decades