New Delhi, September 08: The 72nd National Film Awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Ekta Nagar (Kevadia) in Gujarat on September 22, with the Centre deciding to take the annual ceremony beyond the national capital and hold future editions in different states and cities.
The awards will recognise achievements in Indian cinema for 2024. Instituted in 1954, the National Film Awards honour excellence across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the decision to hold the ceremony at different locations was aimed at taking the awards beyond Delhi and reflecting the linguistic, cultural and regional diversity of Indian cinema.
Among the major honours this year, Article 370 has been selected as the Best Feature Film, while Bhangaar has been named Best Non-Feature Film and Ram-Nami Best Documentary.
Mammootty, for Bramayugam, and Kartik Aaryan, for Chandu Champion, will receive the Best Actor in a Leading Role award. Yami Gautam will be honoured as Best Actress in a Leading Role for Article 370. Randeep Hooda has been named Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
The awards also recognise films in several Indian languages, including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu and Garhwali. Films such as Kalki 2898 AD, Amaran, Pushpa: The Rule Part-02, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Stree 2 will receive honours in various categories.
For the first time, a Santhali film will receive an honour in the Non-Feature Film section of the National Film Awards.
In the Best Writing on Cinema category, Sanjeev Shrivastava has been named Best Film Critic. The Best Book on Cinema award will go to Dr Pradeep Kenchanuru for Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva matthu Rajakeeya, published by Mirror Pusthaka.
Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara, Gujarat.
Addressing the gathering at Maharaja Sayajirao University ground, Modi highlighted the completion of the 2,800-km Dedicated Freight Corridor and its role in improving the movement of passengers and goods. He said the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors would support faster freight movement, reduce transportation time and benefit farmers by enabling quicker access to markets.
The Prime Minister also highlighted developments in manufacturing, railways, renewable energy, artificial intelligence and skill development. He said the government would provide free coaching for competitive examinations and outlined plans to expand AI skills among young people. (PIB)
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