The 72nd National Film Awards were officially announced on July 18, 2026, celebrating the finest cinematic achievements from the 2024 calendar year. Tamil cinema emerged as the undisputed star of the evening, with major honours going to Raayan, Amaran, and Captain Miller across multiple categories.
Tamil Cinema Steals the Spotlight
The 2026 National Film Awards proved to be a landmark night for the Tamil film industry, with several films, actors, and technicians walking away with top honours.
Raayan Wins Best Tamil Film
Dhanush’s directorial venture Raayan was named the Best Tamil Film of the year. Produced under the Sun Pictures banner, this neo-noir revenge drama set in the gritty lanes of North Chennai featured an ensemble cast including SJ Suryah, Sundeep Kishan, Dushara Vijayan, and Kalidas Jayaram. The film’s raw portrayal of family bonds and urban conflict struck a chord with both audiences and the jury.
In addition to the film’s win, Dhanush received a Special Mention for his powerful performance in his period action drama Captain Miller, marking a double celebration for the actor-filmmaker.
Captain Miller Wins for Social Values
Arun Matheswaran’s Captain Miller, starring Dhanush in the lead role, was awarded the Best Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values. The jury applauded the film’s ability to weave socially relevant themes into an engaging period narrative, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Amaran Sweeps Technical Categories
Rajkumar Periasamy’s Amaran, the biographical war drama featuring Sivakarthikeyan as the late Major Mukund Varadarajan, emerged as one of the most celebrated films of the evening. The film’s technical brilliance and emotional depth earned it widespread recognition.
Key wins for Amaran:
- Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy
- Best Music Direction (Background Score): GV Prakash Kumar – his third National Award
- Best Editing: R. Kalaivannan
Jury chair Jayaraj praised Amaran for its poignant tribute to a real-life soldier’s courage and sacrifice, noting that the film masterfully balanced intense battlefield sequences with deeply human moments.
Maharaja Wins Two Awards
Nithilan Saminathan’s Maharaja, featuring Vijay Sethupathi in the lead, secured two well-deserved awards:
- Best Supporting Actress: Sachana Namidass for her moving performance as Jothi (shared with Ropashree Varkady for Mithya)
- Best Action Direction: Anl Arasu for the film’s gripping action choreography
Special Mention for Meiyazhagan
Despite being hailed as one of the finest Tamil films of the decade, Meiyazhagan had to settle for a Special Mention in the Sound Mixing category, awarded to Suren G for his exceptional work. While fans had hoped for more, the recognition still underscores the film’s technical excellence.
Top National Honours
Best Feature Film and Acting Categories
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | Article 370 (Hindi) |
| Best Actor (shared) | Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) and Mammootty (Bramayugam) |
| Best Actress | Yami Gautam (Article 370) |
| Best Director | Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran) |
Complete Winners List: Tamil Films
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Tamil Film | Raayan (Dhanush) |
| Best Director | Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran) |
| Best Background Score | GV Prakash Kumar (Amaran) |
| Best Editing | R. Kalaivannan (Amaran) |
| Best Supporting Actress | Sachana Namidass (Maharaja) – shared |
| Best Action Direction | Anl Arasu (Maharaja) |
| Best Film Promoting Values | Captain Miller (Arun Matheswaran) |
| Special Mention – Actor | Dhanush (Captain Miller) |
| Special Mention – Sound Mixing | Suren G (Meiyazhagan) |
| Best Sound Design (Non-Feature) | T.S. Hari Hara Sudhan (Blue) |
Winners from Other Film Industries
| Language | Best Film Winner |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Srikanth |
| Malayalam | Feminichi Fathima |
| Kannada | Mithya |
| Telugu | Committee Kurrollu |
| Marathi | Mukkam Post Bombilwadi |
| Bengali | Chalchitra Ekhon |
| Odia | Lahari |
Complete List of All Award Winners at a Glance
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | Article 370 |
| Best Director | Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran) |
| Best Actor | Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) & Mammootty (Bramayugam) |
| Best Actress | Yami Gautam (Article 370) |
| Best Supporting Actor | – |
| Best Supporting Actress | Sachana Namidass (Maharaja) & Ropashree Varkady (Mithya) |
| Best Music Direction (Songs) | – |
| Best Music Direction (Background Score) | GV Prakash Kumar (Amaran) |
| Best Lyrics | – |
| Best Playback Singer (Male) | – |
| Best Playback Singer (Female) | – |
| Best Cinematography | – |
| Best Editing | R. Kalaivannan (Amaran) |
| Best Screenplay | – |
| Best Dialogue | – |
| Best Choreography | – |
| Best Action Direction | Anl Arasu (Maharaja) |
| Best Special Effects | – |
| Best Child Artist | – |
| Best Film Promoting Values | Captain Miller |
| Best Film on Environment | – |
| Best Debut Film | – |
| Best Tamil Film | Raayan |
| Best Hindi Film | Srikanth |
| Best Malayalam Film | Feminichi Fathima |
| Best Kannada Film | Mithya |
| Best Telugu Film | Committee Kurrollu |
| Best Marathi Film | Mukkam Post Bombilwadi |
| Best Bengali Film | Chalchitra Ekhon |
| Best Odia Film | Lahari |
(Categories with no publicly announced winner have been left blank pending official confirmation.)
Key Takeaways from the 72nd National Film Awards
Tamil Cinema’s Strong Showing
With a total of 9 wins across feature film categories, Tamil cinema proved its dominance at the national level. From mainstream commercial hits like Raayan to critically acclaimed projects like Amaran and Captain Miller, the industry showcased remarkable diversity in storytelling.
Recognition for Real-Life Stories
Amaran and Article 370 both drew from real-life events, signalling the jury’s appreciation for films that blend fact with compelling drama. This trend suggests that biographical and socially relevant narratives are gaining increasing recognition at the national level.
Shared Awards Reflect High Standards
The decision to award shared honours in the Best Actor (Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty) and Best Supporting Actress (Sachana Namidass and Ropashree Varkady) categories highlights the exceptional quality of performances this year, making it difficult for the jury to choose a single winner.
Ceremony Details
The formal award presentation will take place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on a date to be announced shortly by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The ceremony will be attended by prominent filmmakers, actors, and dignitaries from across the country.
The 72nd National Film Awards 2026 celebrated the best of Indian cinema, with Tamil films leading the charge. Raayan won Best Tamil Film, Amaran dominated technical categories with three major wins, and Captain Miller was recognised for its social relevance. Dhanush received a double honour – a Special Mention for his performance in Captain Miller alongside his film’s win – making him one of the biggest winners of the evening. While critically acclaimed films like Meiyazhagan and Maharaja missed out on top honours, they still earned well-deserved recognition through special mentions and technical awards. The awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan promises to be a grand celebration of India’s cinematic excellence.
Stay tuned for updates on the award ceremony date and more detailed coverage of the 72nd National Film Awards.