Cinema VinesThe 72nd National Film Awards will be presented in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22, marking a first for the ceremony since its inception in 1954 when it was held in Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan. The event will be hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, who will personally hand out the honours, according to officials who confirmed the change on Monday. The move to Gujarat—specifically the town now officially known as Ekta Nagar—breaks a long tradition of holding the awards in the national capital, although the ceremony has occasionally been staged elsewhere, such as in Chennai in 1971.
Kevadia is best known as the site of the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The 597‑foot monument was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 and has become a landmark of the region. The National Film Awards, however, have only recently begun to consider other venues for their annual celebrations.
The winners were announced in July, with several prominent figures from Indian cinema receiving accolades. The film “Article 370” earned the Best Feature Film award, while its lead actress Yami Gautam was named Best Actress. Malayalam legend Mammootty and Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor honour for their performances in “Bramayugam” and “Chandu Champion,” respectively.
Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Director award for “Swatantrya Veer Savarkar,” a film about Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The Telugu science‑fiction epic “Kalki 2898 AD” was honoured with Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and the Tamil film “Captain Miller,” directed by Arun Matheswaran and starring Dhanush, won Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.
These recognitions reflect the diverse range of storytelling and talent celebrated at the National Film Awards, and the shift to Gujarat underscores a willingness to bring the ceremony to new audiences across India.
