72nd National Film Awards to be held in Gujarat for the first time on September 22

The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is set to make history this year as it moves out of Delhi for the first time in several decades. The prestigious ceremony will be held on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat. Government officials confirmed the development on Monday. President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards to the winners during the ceremony.

72nd National Film Awards to be held in Gujrat First Time

The decision to host the event in Gujarat marks a major change from the awards’ usual venue. The first National Film Awards ceremony was held in 1954, and Delhi has hosted most editions since then. However, the awards have been held outside the national capital before. The 17th and 18th editions took place in Madras, now Chennai, in 1970 and 1971.

Ekta Nagar to Welcome the Film Industry

Ekta Nagar, formerly known as Kevadia, is known for being home to the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Standing at 597 feet, the iconic landmark was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

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With the National Film Awards coming to the region, Ekta Nagar is expected to welcome some of the biggest names from the Indian film industry. The choice of the location also adds a unique setting to one of the country’s most respected film award ceremonies.

National Film Award Winners

The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were announced in July, with ‘Article 370’ emerging as one of the biggest winners. The film has been named Best Feature Film, while its lead actor Yami Gautam has won the Best Actress award for her performance.

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The Best Actor honour will be jointly presented to Malayalam superstar Mammootty for Bramayugam and Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion. Both actors will share the prestigious award for their performances in their respective films.

Randeep Hooda and ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Among Big Winners

Actor-filmmaker Randeep Hooda has also earned a major honour, winning Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, his biographical film on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Meanwhile, Telugu science-fiction blockbuster ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ has won the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Tamil film Captain Miller, directed by Arun Matheswaran and starring Dhanush, has been named Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.

With several celebrated films and performers set to receive honours, the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony promises to be a memorable evening for Indian cinema, made even more special by its historic debut in Gujarat.

- PTC PUNJABI