National Film Awards: Mammootty, Kartik, Yami Gautam Win

NEW DELHI-Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty and Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan shared the National Film Award for Best Actor as the winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were announced on July 18 at the National Media Centre.

Mammootty was honored for his performance in ‘Bramayugam’, while Kartik received the award for his role in the sports biopic ‘Chandu Champion’. Actress Yami Gautam was named Best Actress for her performance in ‘Article 370’.

For Mammootty, the honor marks his fourth National Award for Best Actor, placing him alongside Amitabh Bachchan as the only actors to have won the coveted honor four times. The award also ends a 28-year wait, with his previous Best Actor National Award having come in 1998.

The 74-year-old actor earned widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Kodumon Potti in ‘Bramayugam’, the critically acclaimed black-and-white period horror drama released in 2024. Mammootty had earlier won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for the same performance, while the film also received international recognition with a special screening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

With a career spanning more than five decades and over 400 films, Mammootty remains one of Malayalam cinema’s most celebrated performers. Earlier this year, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, for his contribution to Indian cinema.

Among the other major winners, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ was named Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, while ‘Srikanth – Aa Raha Hai Sabki Aankhein Kholne’, starring Rajkummar Rao and directed by Tushar Hiranandani, won Best Hindi Film.

Director Sukumar won the National Award for Best Screenplay for ‘Pushpa 2’, while actor-director Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Director award for ‘Swatantryaveer Savarkar’.

Music composer Shashwat Sachdev won Best Music Direction for ‘Article 370’. ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ also received the award for Best Production Design, while ‘Stree 2’ won Best Choreography.

The 72nd National Film Awards recognize excellence in Indian cinema for 2024. The awards were announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting after being evaluated by an 11-member Central Jury chaired by acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj. (IANS)