72nd National Film Awards: Who Were the First Winners of Indian Cinema’s Most Prestigious Ceremony?
Concluding the recent 72nd National Film Awards held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, where top honors went to 'Article 370' (Best Feature Film), Yami Gautam (Best Actress), Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan (joint Best Actor) for 'Bramayugam' and 'Chandu Champion'. Amid all the buzz, let us take a look at the award's historic first recipients.
The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony concluded at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, celebrating outstanding contributions across Indian cinema. Organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the event honoured creative excellence across multiple languages and regions. While the latest edition highlighted contemporary cinema, it also drew attention to the rich legacy of the awards, which have recognised exceptional talent since their inception in 1954. 72nd National Film Awards Winners: Anant Nag Conferred Dadasaheb Phalke; Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan Named Best Actors - Check Full List.
Highlights of the 72nd National Film Awards
The political thriller Article 370 secured top honours as Best Feature Film, with lead actor Yami Gautam winning the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. The Best Actor in a Leading Role award was jointly awarded to Malayalam superstar Mammootty for his role in Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for his portrayal in Chandu Champion.
Meanwhile, director Rajkumar Periasamy took home the Best Direction award for the Tamil biographical drama Amaran. Veteran actor Anant Nag was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest cinema recognition, for his lifelong contributions to the film industry.
In other key categories, Kalki 2898 AD won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, while Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Film of a Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. The ceremony reflected the linguistic diversity of Indian cinema, showcasing major wins across Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, and regional film industries.
First Winners of National Film Awards
When the National Film Awards were instituted in 1954, originally known as the State Awards for Films, they focused solely on overall film productions, regional features, and documentaries, rather than individual performance categories. Individual honours for artistic and technical achievements were introduced later for films released in 1967, establishing distinct accolades for acting and direction.
Bengali cinema star Uttam Kumar was named the first recipient of the Best Actor award (then called the Bharat Award) for his performances in Antony Firingee and Satyajit Ray's Chiriyakhana. Legendary actress Nargis Dutt won the inaugural Best Actress award (initially termed the Urvashi Award) for her complex psychological performance in Raat Aur Din. The category for Best Direction was officially instituted in 1967, with acclaimed director Satyajit Ray becoming its first recipient for his Bengali feature Chiriyakhana. Who Is Anant Nag? Meet the Sandalwood Icon Named 2024 Dadasaheb Phalke Award Recipient.
The National Film Awards continue to bridge the history of Indian cinema with its evolving future. From honouring early trailblazers like Uttam Kumar, Nargis Dutt, and Satyajit Ray to celebrating the diverse talents of today's awardees, the event remains India's premier platform for recognising cinematic achievement.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2026 06:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
