The 72nd National Film Awards (2026) saw Mammootty secure his fourth Best Actor win for Bramayugam, sharing the honor with Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion). Article 370 claimed the Best Feature Film award, with Yami Gautam named Best Actress, capping a notable year for Indian political and genre cinema.
NEW DELHI — Veteran Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty has officially secured his fourth career National Film Award for Best Actor, leading the official line-up of the 72nd National Film Awards announced today, Saturday, July 18, 2026. Organised by the federal government to honour cinematic masterpieces certified during the 2024 calendar year, the top performance accolade was awarded as a tie. Mammootty shared the prestigious honor with Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan, while actress Yami Gautam claimed the Best Actress crown.
The highly anticipated announcement, overseen by an 11-member jury chaired by acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj, highlights the expanding footprint of high-concept genre cinema across India. Mammootty’s victory for his dark, experimental performance as Kodumon Potti in the black-and-white folk-horror feature Bramayugam cements his legacy as one of the most versatile artists in contemporary global cinema, adding to his previous National Award triumphs in 1989, 1994, and 1999.
Shared Best Actor Glory and 'Article 370' Dominance
The feature film section saw intense competition between commercial blockbusters and grounded political thrillers. Kartik Aaryan captured his maiden National Award for his rigorous portrayal of Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar in the sports drama Chandu Champion. Meanwhile, Yami Gautam took home the Best Actress award for her portrayal of an intelligence officer in Article 370, an intense political drama that also walked away with the premier title of Best Feature Film.
In the supporting categories, veteran performer Sanjay Mishra won Best Supporting Actor for the social drama Bhakshak. The Best Supporting Actress award was jointly presented to Ropashree Varkady for Mithya and Sachana Namidass for her breakout role in the thriller Maharaja.
Deep-Tier Recognition for Technical Mastery
Beyond the primary performance honors, South Indian cinema recorded major technical triumphs. The dystopian epic Kalki 2898 AD captured the award for Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment along with Best Production Design for Nitin Zihani Choudhary. Director Rajkumar Periasamy took home the Best Director trophy for his biographical military feature Amaran, which also won awards for its editing and background score.
72nd National Film Awards: Complete Winners List
The official jury panel finalized winners across dozens of creative divisions. The following table represents the complete list of major winners in the Feature Films category:
| Award Category | Winner Name / Film Title | Language |
| Best Feature Film | Article 370 | Hindi |
| Best Actor | Mammootty (Bramayugam) & Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) | Malayalam / Hindi |
| Best Actress | Yami Gautam (Article 370) | Hindi |
| Best Director | Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran) | Tamil |
| Best Supporting Actor | Sanjay Mishra (Bhakshak) | Hindi |
| Best Supporting Actress | Ropashree Varkady (Mithya) & Sachana Namidass (Maharaja) | Kannada / Tamil |
| Best Wholesome Popular Film | Kalki 2898 AD | Telugu |
| Best Debut Director | Randeep Hooda (Swatantrya Veer Savarkar) | Hindi |
| Best Film on Social/National Values | Captain Miller | Tamil |
| Best Original Screenplay | Sukumar (Pushpa 2: The Rule) | Telugu |
| Best Dialogue Writer | Venky Atluri (Lucky Baskhar) | Telugu |
| Best Cinematography | Shehnad Jalal (Bramayugam) | Malayalam |
| Best Music Direction (Songs) | Shashwat Sachdev (Article 370) | Hindi |
| Best Music Direction (Score) | GV Prakash (Amaran) | Tamil |
| Best Hindi Film | Srikanth | Hindi |
| Best Malayalam Film | Feminichi Fathima | Malayalam |
| Best Tamil Film | Raayan | Tamil |
| Best Telugu Film | Committee Kurrollu | Telugu |
Official Sources Section
The verified records of the 72nd National Film Awards were confirmed via the comprehensive digital media briefings hosted by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and public gazette registries authorized directly under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India.
Executive Quotations
"The 72nd National Film Awards highlight the incredible cultural diversity and rising technical standard of Indian storytelling," the Press Information Bureau (PIB) noted in its central declaration framework.
According to officials from the evaluation panel, Mammootty’s fourth victory is a tribute to his uncompromising approach to character work, while the dual award alongside Kartik Aaryan represents a seamless blending of classic performance art and mainstream commercial dedication.
Why It Matters
For entertainment financers, theater chains, and streaming platforms, the multi-language distributions of this year's awards demonstrate the huge commercial power of cross-regional titles. Mid-budget political dramas like Article 370 and monochromatic experiments like Bramayugam prove that prestige validation can directly elevate streaming lifecycles and global distribution valuations. For film enthusiasts, the balanced list of winners shows a system that rewards genuine technical risks and complex storytelling.
Key Facts at a Glance
Iconic Fourth Win: Malayalam actor Mammootty won his fourth career National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the folk-horror film Bramayugam.
Top Production: The political thriller Article 370 took home the premier Best Feature Film prize.
Mainstream Milestone: Kartik Aaryan shared the top acting honor, claiming his first-ever National Award for Chandu Champion.
Jury Coordination: The extensive selection process was overseen by a dedicated panel chaired by filmmaker Jayaraj.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which movies earned Mammootty his previous three National Film Awards?
The veteran superstar previously won the Best Actor title for Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha and Mathilukal (1989), Ponthan Mada and Vidheyan (1994), and the English-language biographical feature Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (1999).
What makes the cinematography win for Bramayugam significant?
Cinematographer Shehnad Jalal won the award because the entire film was shot completely in black-and-white, using subtle lighting to create a tense atmosphere without relying on standard colors or jump scares.
How does a film qualify for this edition of the National Film Awards?
To meet the evaluation criteria for the 72nd edition, feature films must have received formal theatrical or structural certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024.
Source: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Directorate of Film Festivals.
