71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-a99e8de8-8cc5-4bb3-941b-82c37ce3115b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] President Droupadi Murmu presented the 71st National Film Awards on September 23, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, celebrating top Indian films from 2023. Image Credit: Instagram

71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-6145b1d3-7b17-4e47-b3c7-1d2e906ac10d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7920a847-6035-496a-8fc8-71560514ffe9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f0b0198-9c67-4f0f-bd83-81ba3b2e6d04 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] These prestigious honors recognize outstanding acting, directing, and technical work across languages, starting with the national anthem. Image Credit: Canva

71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-73ced3a0-efbf-4c11-ada8-a0d3f384a4e9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f72b22c4-9059-430f-89bc-d85a3ca9c46d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-16.223796911456546%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Malayalam icon Mohanlal received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award—cinema's highest tribute—with a Swarna Kamal, shawl, and Rs 10 lakh cash prize.

71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-5925d52f-b883-47a9-a25e-11bb59a3e001","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39548119-9663-423f-829a-676a57024e8a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(10.661352256100008%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Shah Rukh Khan earned his first National Award for Best Actor in Jawan , hailed as the "King of Arts" for his global journey from Delhi theater.

71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-732e5f6e-c390-4250-983c-de9de03bf4a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7e4ddc8-e259-4585-8361-61eebacd99ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d3a0ea2-355b-4a83-8c71-e9bb174def24","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-897f6552-bd15-4412-97b7-051f861716cf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-18.541482184521755%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway , while Vikrant Massey shared Best Actor honors for 12th Fail .

71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-0e3f7621-ce0b-4fdc-9f66-d98ae582ce49","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c6144e3-64e6-4635-9741-7364f86022ae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 12th Fail took Best Feature Film stars Vikranth, with Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani winning for wholesome entertainment.

71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-dd3e2a73-1614-49bd-b584-1138759a0ea3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09faa6bb-c073-4e94-a80b-29af920071a0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Regional standouts include Anil Ravipudi's Bhagavanth Kesari (Telugu), Ramkuma Balakrishnan's Parking (Tamil), and Christo Tomy's Ullozhukku (Malayalam). Image Credit: Instagram

71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-b1b4a5e7-4277-494f-bd10-807890f18f9f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67c99576-cd34-413c-bf62-58d641462ef0","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e7f05a5-6efb-4047-bf1c-991b63ad781e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26eb6a23-cb7a-4af6-8ebd-8d569e598b4f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Technical wins went to Vaibhavi Merchant for choreography in Rocky Aur Rani , Harshavardhan Rameshwar for Animal 's background score, and Kasarla Shyam for Balagam lyrics.

71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-3b1c723a-02d5-4fa0-a565-b35b2d875a3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0bde612-4a6a-4807-b091-d1c56d4d777e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Awards carry Swarna Kamal or Rajat Kamal, certificates, and cash, boosting careers since the first event in 1954. Image Credit: Canva

71st National Film Awards

[{"selector":"#anim-63a02338-84ad-4c53-abe8-432a737cf4b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64d66ff9-0856-4181-9762-7fec643f0bb3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Summer 2026 brings more anticipation as these talents continue shaping Indian cinema's diverse stories. Image Credit: Instagram Learn more