What It Is
The National Film Awards are India’s premier film honours, organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting via the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). They recognize excellence across feature films, non-feature films, and writing on cinema.
Key Dates & Eligibility
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The awards are for films, works in non-feature cinema, and writing on cinema from the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.
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Entries had to be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification, and submissions were open online until 18 September 2024. Hard copies followed soon after.
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The announcement of winners took place on 1 August 2025, and the presentation ceremony was held on 23 September 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Major Winners & Highlights
| Category | Winner(s) | Notable Information |
|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | 12th Fail | Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra; won multiple top awards. |
| Best Actor | Shah Rukh Khan & Vikrant Massey (shared) | SRK won for Jawan, Vikrant for 12th Fail. It was SRK’s first National Film Award. |
| Best Actress | Rani Mukerji for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway | She received this award for the first time. |
| Lifetime Achievement | Mohanlal | Conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. |
Other Notable Awards & Facts
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Animal won 3 awards, including Best Sound Design (Sachin Sudhakaran & Hariharan Muralidharan), Best Background Music (Harshavardhan Rameshwar), and a Special Mention for Re-Recording Mixer.
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Lead actors: Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol (with Tripti Dimri in a pivotal supporting role)
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Parking won 3 awards: Best Tamil Feature Film, Best Supporting Actor (M. S. Bhaskar), and Best Screenplay for Ramkumar Balakrishnan.
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Lead actors: Harish Kalyan and Indhuja Ravichandran.
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Sam Bahadur also won 3 awards: Best Makeup, Best Costume Design, Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values.
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Lead actors: Vicky Kaushal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra.
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Flowering Man won Best Non-Feature Film (Golden Lotus) for its producer (Film and Television Institute of India) and director Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar.
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Utpal Datta won the Best Critic award.
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Ceremony & Prize Details
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The ceremony was presided over by President Droupadi Murmu.
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Each winner received a medal (Golden Lotus / Swarna Kamal or Silver Lotus / Rajat Kamal), a certificate, and cash prize (varies by category). For example, in Best Actor (shared) category, the prize money was ₹2 lakh split between the two winners.
Controversies / Critiques
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The Kerala Story won Best Cinematography, which drew criticism from Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who questioned the decision and claimed ideological bias.
Significance
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This edition of the awards marks Shah Rukh Khan’s first ever National Film Award, an important milestone in his over-30-year career.
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It also continued the tradition of honouring regional cinema and non-feature films—reflecting India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
