New Delhi | August 1, 2025 — The 71st National Film Awards honoured the best of Indian cinema from 2023, with a diverse range of films and talent recognized across feature and non-feature categories. The awards were announced by a jury headed by acclaimed filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker.
🎬 Major Feature Film Awards:
- Best Feature Film: 12th Fail
- Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)
- Best Actress: Rani Mukerji (Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway)
- Best Director: Sudipto Sen (The Kerala Story)
- Best Supporting Actress: Urvashi (Ullozhukku) & Janki Bodiwala (Vash)
- Best Supporting Actor: Vijayaraghavan (Pookkaalam), M.S. Bhaskar (Parking)
- Best Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani
Best Film Promoting National/Social Values: Sam Bahadur
🎶 Music & Technical Excellence:
- Best Music Direction (Songs): Vaathi (Tamil)
- Best Background Score: Animal – Harshavardhan Rameshwar
- Best Lyrics: Balagam (The Group)
- Best Choreography: Dhindhora Baje Re – Vaibhavi Merchant
- Best Cinematography: Prasantanu Mohapatra (The Kerala Story)
- Best Dialogue Writer: Deepak Kingrani (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai)
Best Screenplay: Baby (Sai Rajesh Neelam), Parking (Ramkumar Balakrishna)
🌍 Regional Film Winners:
- Best Hindi Film: Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery
- Best Tamil Film: Parking
- Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari
- Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku
- Best Bengali Film: Deep Fridge
- Best Assamese Film: Rongatapu 1982
- Best Marathi Film: Shyamchi Aai
- Best Punjabi Film: Godday Godday Chaa
Best Odia Film: Pushkara
📽️ Top Non-Feature Film Winners:
- Best Non-Fiction Film: Flowering Man
- Best Debut Film of a Director: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw
- Best Documentary Film: God, Vulture and Human
- Best Art/Culture Film: Timeless Tamil Nadu
- Best Short Film: Giddh: The Scavenger
- Best Script: Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know
- Best Direction (Non-Feature): Piyush Thakur (The First Film)
🎖️ Special Mentions & Legacy
Special mentions were given to Nekal – Chronicle of the Paddy Man and The Sea and the Seven Villages. The Best Film Critic honour went to Utpal Datta. The legacy of the awards continues from 1954 when Shyamchi Aai (Marathi) won the first Best Feature Film.
Ironically, the most awarded film in the history of the awards remains Lagaan, helmed by this year’s jury chief Ashutosh Gowariker.
From newcomers to legends, this year’s winners represent the rich diversity, courage, and innovation of Indian storytelling. 🎉
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