President Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on Tuesday, marking the first time the ceremony was held outside Delhi. The event, set against the backdrop of the Statue of Unity, recognised cinematic achievements for 2024 across feature films, non‑feature films and writing on cinema.
During the ceremony, Murmu praised the Best Feature Film winner, Article 370, describing it as a vivid account of the serious challenges to national unity and their solutions. She congratulated the film’s team and singled out actress Yami Gautam for her Best Actress performance in the film.
The president also congratulated Mammootty, who shared the Best Actor award with Kartik Aaryan. Mammootty received the honor for his role in Bramayugam, while Aaryan won for Chandu Champion, a film inspired by the life of Indian soldier and Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar. Murmu highlighted Petkar’s journey from war injury to becoming the first Indian Paralympic gold medallist in 1972.
Murmu spoke about other notable winners, including Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, which earned Randeep Hooda the Best Debut Film of a Director award, and Bhakshak, which drew attention to women’s safety. She praised the film’s sensitive treatment of the issue and highlighted Angen, a Santhali film directed by Ravi Raj Murmu, for promoting cultural diversity and social inclusion.
The president also emphasized the importance of children’s cinema, describing the recognition of the Best Children’s Film and its young artists as an artistic investment in the country’s future. She lauded the jury for selecting films that address significant societal and national issues, noting that cinema reflects India’s dreams, traditions, struggles and possibilities.
