This year’s National Film Awards (the 71st edition) celebrate the best of Indian cinema for the films released in 2023. The winners were announced on August 1, 2025, and the awards were conferred on September 23, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, by President Droupadi Murmu. The National Film Awards remain among the most respected and institutionally backed film honours in India.
Top Winners & Star Moments
Best Feature Film: ‘12th Fail’ won the Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) for Best Feature Film.
Best Actor (Lead): In a historic tie, Shah Rukh Khan (for ‘Jawan’) and Vikrant Massey (for ‘12th Fail’) shared the award. This marked SRK’s first National Award in his decades-long career.
Best Actress (Lead): Rani Mukerji was honoured for her role in ‘Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway’.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award (Lifetime Achievement): Mohanlal received India’s highest film honour for his lifetime contribution.
More Awards Across Languages & Categories
Best Hindi Film: Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery
Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari
Best Tamil Film: Parking
Best Marathi Film: Shyamchi Aai
Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku
Best Punjabi Film: Godday Godday Chaa
Best Odia Film: Pushkara
Best Kannada Film: Kandeelu: The Ray of Hope
Best Gujarati Film: Vash
Best Bengali Film: Deep Fridge
Best Director went to Sudipto Sen for ‘The Kerala Story’.
Some films swept multiple awards: ‘Animal’, ‘Parking’, and ‘Sam Bahadur’ each won three awards, making them among the most recognised this edition.
What Makes This Edition Stand Out
Firsts & Milestones: Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji both won their first National Awards-somewhat late in their legendary careers, but these wins are being celebrated as long overdue.
Diversity & Regional Pride: The awards again underscored India’s multilingual cinema. Films from small industries got the spotlight alongside big Bollywood names.
Delayed Ceremony & Retroactive Years: Because of delays, the 2025 awards actually honour films from 2023, which makes the timing feel a bit retrospective.
Final Remarks
The 71st National Film Awards gave us a mix of glamour, recognition, and overdue justice. While 12th Fail dominated with Best Film and a share of Best Actor, stellar performances by Rani Mukerji and the lifetime achievement honour for Mohanlal remind us that cinema isn’t just about blockbuster hits-it’s also about craft, legacy, and storytelling across all languages. This edition will be remembered for breaking records, honouring legends, and spotlighting the vast, varied landscape of Indian cinema.
