72nd National Film Awards to Be Held in Gujarat for First Time, President Murmu to Present Honours

September 8, 2026

New Delhi: The 72nd National Film Awards will be held in Gujarat for the first time in the history of the prestigious ceremony, with President Droupadi Murmu scheduled to present the honours on September 22. The ceremony will take place in Ekta Nagar, marking a significant departure from the event’s long-standing association with Delhi.

Ceremony Moves From Delhi to Ekta Nagar

The National Film Awards were first presented in 1954 at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi, which has hosted the ceremony on several occasions over the years. This year, the awards will instead be presented in Ekta Nagar, formerly known as Kevadia.

Ekta Nagar is home to the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Standing 597 feet tall, the monument was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

Article 370 Leads This Year’s Winners

The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were announced in July, with Article 370 emerging as the Best Feature Film. The film’s lead actor Yami Gautam was also named Best Actress for her performance.

Malayalam superstar Mammootty and Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan will share the Best Actor honour. Mammootty has been recognised for his performance in Bramayugam, while Aaryan won for his role in Chandu Champion.

Actor-filmmaker Randeep Hooda has also earned recognition at this year’s awards. He has been named the Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, his directorial debut based on the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Kalki 2898 AD, Captain Miller Among Major Winners

Nag Ashwin’s Telugu science-fiction epic Kalki 2898 AD will receive the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment award.

Meanwhile, Tamil film Captain Miller, directed by Arun Matheswaran and starring Dhanush, has been named the Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.

The September 22 ceremony is expected to bring together several of the year’s biggest winners as the National Film Awards begin a new chapter by moving the prestigious event outside Delhi for the first time.