President Droupadi Murmu celebrated India’s top cinematic talents on Tuesday at a special ceremony in Delhi. She presented the 71st National Film Awards, honoring standout films, actors, and creators from across the country. These prestigious Bollywood and Indian cinema awards recognize excellence in everything from storytelling to technical wizardry, and they’ve got fans buzzing online. Let’s dive into the big winners of the 2025 National Film Awards.
Kicking things off, “12th Fail” took home the Best Feature Film trophy. Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films and directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, this inspiring drama has been a hit with audiences for its real-life grit.
For fresh voices, Ashish Avinash Bende earned Best Debut Film of a Director for “Aatmapamphlet,” a promising start that highlights new talent in Indian movies.
If you’re all about feel-good vibes, “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” from Dharma Productions and Karan Johar snagged Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. It’s the ultimate rom-com escapism!
Kids’ cinema shone bright with “Naal 2” winning Best Children’s Film, brought to you by Aatpat Production, Zee Studios, and Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti.
In the director’s chair, Sudipto Sen impressed with Best Direction for the intense “The Kerala Story.” Meanwhile, “Hanu-Man” dominated visuals, with Jetty Venkat Kumar picking up Best Film in AVGC for top-notch visual effects.
On the values front, “Sam Bahadur,” produced by Unilazer Ventures and directed by Meghna Gulzar, won Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values – a nod to its powerful message.
Acting highlights stole the show. Shah Rukh Khan grabbed Best Actor in a Leading Role for his high-octane role in “Jawan,” while Vikrant Massey shared the spotlight for his heartfelt performance in “12th Fail.” Bollywood superstar SRK’s win has social media exploding with congratulations.
Rani Mukerji shone as Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway,” delivering a raw, emotional powerhouse.
Supporting roles went to Vijayaraghavan for “Pookkaalam” and M.S. Bhaskar for “Parking” in the male category. For females, Urvashi won for “Ullozhukku,” and Janki Bodiwala for “Vash.”
Young stars didn’t go unnoticed: Sukriti Veni Bandreddi from “Gandhi Tatha Chettu,” Kabir Khandare from “Gypsy,” and the trio Treesha Thosar, Shrinivas Pokale, and Bhargav Jagtap from “Naal 2” shared Best Child Artist honors.
Music lovers cheered as P.V.N.S. Rohit took Best Male Playback Singer for “Baby” (Premistunna), and Shilpa Rao won Best Female Playback Singer for “Jawan” (Chaleya) – that catchy track has been on repeat for millions.
Behind-the-scenes magic got its due too. Prasantanu Mohapatra earned Best Cinematography for “The Kerala Story.” Sai Rajesh won Best Screenplay (Original) for “Baby,” tying with Ramkumar Balakrishnan for “Parking.” Deepak Kingrani nailed Best Dialogues in “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai.”
Sound whizzes Sachin Sudhakaran and Hariharan Muralidharan impressed with Best Sound Design for “Animal.” Editing champ Midhun Murali won for “Pookkaalam,” while Mohandas took Best Production Design for “2018.”
Costumes sparkled with Sachin Lovalekar, Divvya Gambhir, and Nidhhi Gambhir for “Sam Bahadur,” and makeup artist Shrikant Desai also for that film. Lyrics lovers vibed with Kasarla Shyam’s win for “Balagam” (Ooru Palletooru). Finally, Vaibhavi Merchant danced away with Best Choreography for “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” (Dhindhora Baje Re).
Documentaries and shorts rounded out the night: Rishiraj Agarwal’s “God Vulture and Human” won Best Documentary, Manish Saini’s “Giddh (The Scavenger)” took Best Short Film, and Utpal Datta earned Best Film Critic.
These National Film Awards 2025 spotlight the best of Indian cinema, from blockbusters to indie gems. Whether you’re a SRK fan or love deep stories, this year’s list has something for everyone. What’s your favorite win?
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