72nd National Film Awards 2026: Winners, Telugu Awards, Important Facts & MCQs
The 72nd National Film Awards, recognising films of the year 2024, were officially announced on 18.07.2026. For competitive-exam students, this topic is important because questions can be asked not only about the major winners but also about the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, National Film Development Corporation, Swarna Kamal and Rajat Kamal, jury chairpersons, language awards and the history of the National Film Awards. This updated Learn With Mahesh note replaces the older winners list with the latest officially announced results and adds exam-oriented static GK, revision points and clickable MCQs.
Why Are the 72nd National Film Awards Important for Exams?
The National Film Awards are among India’s most important official honours in cinema. They were established in 1954 to encourage cinematic excellence and to recognise films that contribute to India’s cultural understanding, artistic standards and social relevance. The first edition honoured films of 1953. Over time, the awards expanded from a small set of national and regional honours into separate sections covering feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema.
The 72nd National Film Awards are especially important for 2026 current affairs because the results were announced on 18 July 2026 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. A common examination trap is the difference between the edition number, the film year and the announcement year. The 72nd awards are for films certified in the year 2024, but the winners were announced in 2026. Students should therefore remember the combination: 72nd → 2024 films → announced in 2026.
Article 370 won Best Feature Film. Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion shared the Best Actor in a Leading Role award, while Yami Gautam won Best Actress in a Leading Role for Article 370. Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Direction for Amaran. Telugu cinema had a particularly strong showing: Kalki 2898 AD won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu won Best Children’s Film, and Committee Kurrollu won Best Telugu Film. Telugu films also received honours in screenplay, dialogue, production design, costume design and make-up categories.
For static GK, remember that the awards are connected with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The functions of the former Directorate of Film Festivals were transferred to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) as part of the government’s restructuring of film-media units. Another useful constitutional link is the language-film category: the official results separately recognise the best feature films in languages specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. These connections make the topic useful for both current-affairs and general-studies questions.
72nd National Film Awards 2026 – Quick Facts
| Topic | Important Fact |
|---|---|
| Edition | 72nd National Film Awards |
| Award year | 2024 |
| Winners announced | 18.07.2026 |
| Concerned Ministry | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |
| Best Feature Film | Article 370 (Hindi) |
| Best Director | Rajkumar Periasamy – Amaran |
| Best Actor | Mammootty – Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan – Chandu Champion |
| Best Actress | Yami Gautam – Article 370 |
| Best Popular Film | Kalki 2898 AD (Telugu) |
| Best Children’s Film | 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu (Telugu) |
| Best Telugu Film | Committee Kurrollu |
| Best Non-Feature Film | Bhangaar (Marathi & English) |
| Best Documentary | Ram-Nami (Hindi) |
Major Feature Film Winners
| Category | Winner | Film / Language |
|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | Jio Studios & B62 Studios / Director Aditya Suhas Jambhale | Article 370 – Hindi |
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Randeep Hooda | Swatantrya Veer Savarkar – Hindi |
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Vyjayanthi Movies / Director Nag Ashwin Singireddy | Kalki 2898 AD – Telugu |
| Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values | Sathya Jyothi Films / Director Arun Matheswaran | Captain Miller – Tamil |
| Best Children’s Film | S Originals & Waltair Productions Pvt. Ltd. / Director Nanda Kishore Emani | 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu – Telugu |
| Best Direction | Rajkumar Periasamy | Amaran – Tamil |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan | Bramayugam / Chandu Champion |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Yami Gautam | Article 370 – Hindi |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Sanjay Mishra | Bhakshak – Hindi |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Vaikom Vijayalakshmi | A.R.M. – Malayalam |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Abhay Jodhpurkar | Gharat Ganpati – Marathi |
| Best Lyrics | Manoj Muntashir | Maidaan – “Jaane Do” |
| Best Choreography | Vijay Ganguly | Stree 2 – “Aaj Ki Raat” |
Telugu Cinema at the 72nd National Film Awards
| Award | Telugu Film / Awardee |
|---|---|
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Kalki 2898 AD |
| Best Children’s Film | 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu |
| Best Child Artist | Arundev Pothula – 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu (shared category) |
| Best Original Screenplay | Bandreddi Sukumar – Pushpa: The Rule Part – 02 |
| Best Dialogue Writer | Venky Atluri – Lucky Baskhar |
| Best Production Design | Nitin Zihani Choudhary – Kalki 2898 AD |
| Best Costume Design | Deepali Noor & Sheetal Sharma – Pushpa: The Rule Part – 02 |
| Best Make-up | P Ravi Kumar – Committee Kurrollu |
| Best Telugu Film | Committee Kurrollu – Director Yadhu Vamsee |
Non-Feature Film & Writing on Cinema – Important Winners
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Non-Feature Film | Bhangaar – Producer & Director Sumira Roy |
| Best Documentary | Ram-Nami – Director Bharatbala Ganapathy |
| Best Non-Feature Film Direction | Aanand L Rai – Statue of Unity – Ekta ka Prateek |
| Best Book on Cinema | Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva matthu Rajakeeya – Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty |
| Best Film Critic | Sanjeev Shrivastava – Hindi |
Related Static GK for Competitive Exams
1. When Were the National Film Awards Started?
The National Film Awards were established in 1954. The first edition honoured films of the year 1953. In their early years, they were known as the State Awards.
2. Which Ministry Is Associated with the Awards?
The awards are conferred under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
3. What Are Swarna Kamal and Rajat Kamal?
Swarna Kamal means Golden Lotus and Rajat Kamal means Silver Lotus. Different award categories carry the appropriate medal, certificate and cash prize prescribed for that category.
4. What Is the NFDC Connection?
The functions of the former Directorate of Film Festivals, along with other film-media units, were transferred to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) under the Government of India’s restructuring of film-media organisations.
5. Constitution Connection
The National Film Awards include a category for the best feature film in languages specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. This makes the topic useful for linking current affairs with Indian Polity.
6. Jury Chairpersons – 72nd Awards
- Feature Film Jury: Jayaraj
- Non-Feature Film Jury: Aseem Sinha
- Best Writing on Cinema Jury: A. Chandrasekhar
“72 – 24 – 26 – 370”
72 = 72nd National Film Awards
24 = Films of 2024
26 = Winners announced in 2026
370 = Article 370, Best Feature Film
Do Not Confuse
| Point | Correct Fact |
|---|---|
| 72nd awards | For films of 2024; winners announced in 2026 |
| 70th awards | For films of 2022; winners announced in 2024 |
| Best Feature Film – 72nd | Article 370 |
| Best Popular Film – 72nd | Kalki 2898 AD |
| Best Telugu Film – 72nd | Committee Kurrollu |
| Best Children’s Film – 72nd | 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu |
| Best Actor – 72nd | Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the award |
| Best Actress – 72nd | Yami Gautam |
10 MCQs – 72nd National Film Awards 2026
1. Which film won the Best Feature Film award at the 72nd National Film Awards?
2. The 72nd National Film Awards announced in 2026 recognised films of which year?
3. Who shared the Best Actor in a Leading Role award at the 72nd National Film Awards?
4. Who won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 72nd National Film Awards?
5. Which Telugu film won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment?
6. Which film won the Best Telugu Film award?
7. Who won Best Direction for the film Amaran?
8. Which Telugu film won the Best Children’s Film award?
9. The National Film Awards were established in which year?
10. Which institution is now connected with functions formerly handled by the Directorate of Film Festivals?
Quick Revision – 10 One-Liners
- The latest announced edition as on 17.08.2026 is the 72nd National Film Awards.
- The 72nd awards recognise films of the year 2024.
- The winners were announced on 18.07.2026.
- Article 370 won Best Feature Film.
- Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared Best Actor in a Leading Role.
- Yami Gautam won Best Actress in a Leading Role.
- Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Direction for Amaran.
- Kalki 2898 AD won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
- Committee Kurrollu won Best Telugu Film.
- The National Film Awards were established in 1954.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which is the latest National Film Awards edition announced as on 17.08.2026?
The latest officially announced edition is the 72nd National Film Awards, covering films of 2024.
2. When were the 72nd National Film Awards winners announced?
The winners were announced on 18.07.2026.
3. Which film won Best Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards?
Article 370 won the Best Feature Film award.
4. Which film won Best Telugu Film?
Committee Kurrollu won the Best Telugu Film award.
5. Which Telugu films received major national honours?
Important Telugu winners include Kalki 2898 AD, 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu, Committee Kurrollu, Pushpa: The Rule Part – 02 and Lucky Baskhar.
Related Posts on Learn With Mahesh
- Latest Current Affairs for Competitive Exams
- Awards and Honours – Exam Notes
- Static GK for Government Exams
- Competitive Exam MCQ Practice
- Nobel Prize Winners 2024 – Simple Notes for Students
Official Sources and References
- Press Information Bureau – 72nd National Film Awards for the year 2024 Announced
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting – About the Ministry / Films Wing
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting – Films Wing and NFDC restructuring
- National Film Development Corporation – National Film Awards
- PIB – National Film Awards: History and Examination-Relevant Background
Educational Note: This article is prepared for general awareness and competitive-examination preparation. Award facts are based primarily on official Government of India sources available up to 17.08.2026.
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