Story perspectives

Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan Share Best Actor; Feminichi Fathima Wins Malayalam

7/18/2026

Summary

Mammootty Wins

India’s 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on Saturday, and Mammootty won the Rajat Kamal Best Actor Award for Bramayugam.
Kartik Aaryan shared the Rajat Kamal Best Actor honour with Mammootty.
Shehnad Jalal earned Best Cinematography for Bramayugam, his second work with director Rahul Sadasivan after Bhoothakalam.
Fasil Muhammed’s debut Feminichi Fathima won Best Malayalam Film after taking the jury, audience and FIPRESCI awards at 29th International Film Festival of Kerala.

Summary

Article 370 Wins

A jury of 11 members chaired by director Jayaraj evaluated all CBFC-certified films from Jan 1 to Dec 31 2024.
Separate juries led by Aseem Sinha and A. Chandrasekhar made independent selections.
Award went to Article 370, a drama on missions tied to the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, produced by Jio Studios.
Awards covered 23 language categories—from Assamese Juiphool to Garhwali Dholi—and gave special mentions to Malayalam Bhadra-Kali Natakam and Hindi Chola Dora aur Sui.

History

Historical Context

The National Film Awards, created in 1954 to honor Indian cinema nationwide, were administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals from 1973 until 2020, after which the NFDC took over. In 2024, an 11-member jury chaired by director Jayaraj evaluated entries in 23 language categories, showing the ceremony’s growth from a modest early event to a broad showcase of regional diversity.

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Mammootty Wins

India’s 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on Saturday, and Mammootty won the Rajat Kamal Best Actor Award for Bramayugam.
Kartik Aaryan shared the Rajat Kamal Best Actor honour with Mammootty.
Shehnad Jalal earned Best Cinematography for Bramayugam, his second work with director Rahul Sadasivan after Bhoothakalam.
Fasil Muhammed’s debut Feminichi Fathima won Best Malayalam Film after taking the jury, audience and FIPRESCI awards at 29th International Film Festival of Kerala.

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