On 23 September 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu handed out the 71st National Film Awards. The awards honored films certified in 2023, and the winners were first announced on 1 August.
Big Wins & Firsts
The Best Feature Film went to 12th Fail. Meanwhile, Flowering Man won Best Non-Feature Film, and God Vulture and Human was named Best Documentary.
In acting, something special happened: Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey both shared the Best Actor award, for Jawan and 12th Fail respectively. For the Best Actress prize, Rani Mukerji won for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway — her first National Award.
In addition, the top honor for lifetime achievement, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was given to Mohanlal.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
The evening was filled with emotional moments and warm congratulations. For example, Rani Mukerji said:
“This award is also a tribute to all the mothers around the world … I’m truly overwhelmed to receive my first National Award …”
Moreover, the President remarked that cinema in India “reflects the essence of democracy and the diversity of Bharat.”
One standout moment was when Mohanlal and Shah Rukh Khan shared a hug on stage, symbolizing respect across generations and film industries.
Also, Treesha Thosar, just 4 years old, won Best Child Artist for the Marathi film Naal 2, making her one of the youngest ever National Award recipients.
In yet another touching moment, Kamal Haasan made a video call to Treesha to congratulate her, calling them “children of cinema.”
Why It Stood Out
This edition of the National Film Awards felt special for many reasons:
- It gave first-time national awards to big names like Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji, which made the night emotionally charged.
- It balanced between big mainstream films and smaller voices — regional films, short films, documentaries all got their moments.
- The presence of heartfelt speeches, recognitions across craft categories, and moments of genuine surprise kept the event alive.
- Also, the awards were anchored in fairness: films from all Indian languages were eligible, and selection was done by jury process.
Reflections and Looking Ahead
To sum up, the 71st National Film Awards succeeded in more ways than one. While they honored excellence, they also told stories of persistence, diversity, and art behind the scenes. Because of that, they did not feel like just another award night — they felt like a reaffirmation of what Indian cinema can achieve.
- More regional and experimental films continue to get attention.
- Younger artists keep getting platforms.
- The awards keep evolving with new forms (like digital, animation, etc.).
- The bridge between mainstream and independent cinema stays strong.
