National Film Awards 2026 ceremony to be held in Gujarat
The 72nd National Film Awards (NFA) ceremony, which recognizes excellence in Indian cinema, will take place in Gujarat's Kevadia rather than the traditional venue in New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan. This marks a departure from the 72-year-old tradition of hosting the event in the capital. Veteran actor Sanjay Mishra won the 'Best Supporting Actor' award for his role in 'Bhakshak,' while several other films and actors received accolades across various categories. The winners were officially announced on July 18 during a press conference in New Delhi, and the ceremony is set for September 22, with President Droupadi Murmu expected to present the awards. Notable wins include 'Article 370' for Best Feature Film, Yami Gautam for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Rajkumar Periasamy for Best Direction.
The 72nd National Film Awards will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, marking the first time the prestigious ceremony will take place outside New Delhi. The Information and Broadcasting ministry stated this decision is part of a broader policy initiative to decentralise the event and promote the idea of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat." The awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu on September 22 at Ekta Nagar, formerly known as Kevadia. This location is home to the world's tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. The National Film Awards, established in 1954, have historically been held in Delhi, primarily at Vigyan Bhawan. However, exceptions have occurred, such as the 17th edition in Chennai in 1971. The 72nd edition, announced in July, represents a significant shift in tradition. The ceremony aims to bring together cinematic talent from across India and highlight the diverse linguistic and cultural aspects of Indian filmmaking. Several films and individuals received recognition in the awards. "Article 370" was named the best feature film, with Yami Gautam receiving the best actress award for her role in the film. Malayalam actor Mammootty and Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan shared the best actor award for their performances in "Bramayugam" and "Chandu Champion," respectively. Randeep Hooda was awarded the best debut director for his work on "Swatantrya Veer Savarkar," a biographical film about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Telugu science fiction epic "Kalki 2898 AD" received the award for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment, while Tamil film "Captain Miller," directed by Arun Matheswaran and starring Dhanush, was named the best feature film promoting national, social, and environmental values. The awards also acknowledged excellence in films across multiple languages and formats, including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu, and Garhwali. Notable honours were also given to films such as "Kalki 2898 AD," "Amaran," "Pushpa: The Rule Part-02," "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3," and "Stree 2." For the first time, a Santhali film received recognition in the Non-Feature Film section. Veteran actor Sanjay Mishra won the "Best Supporting Actor" award for his role in "Bhakshak," while Sachana Namidass and Ropashree Varkady were jointly awarded "Best Supporting Actress" for their performances in "Maharaja" and "Mithya," respectively. Other major winners included "Pushpa: The Rule Part-02" for "Best Screenplay (Original)" and "Best Costume Design," "Stree 2" for "Best Choreography," and "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3" for "Best Sound Design." "Maharaja" was awarded "Best Action Direction," and "Kalki 2898 AD" received "Best Production Design." Critics have raised questions about the credibility of the National Film Awards, suggesting potential political influences. Despite these concerns, the move to hold the ceremony in Gujarat reflects efforts to expand the event's reach and significance beyond the traditional confines of New Delhi.
The 72nd National Film Awards (NFA) ceremony, which recognizes excellence in Indian cinema, will take place in Gujarat's Kevadia rather than the traditional venue in New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan. This marks a departure from the 72-year-old tradition of hosting the event in the capital. Veteran actor Sanjay Mishra won the 'Best Supporting Actor' award for his role in 'Bhakshak,' while several other films and actors received accolades across various categories. The winners were officially announced on July 18 during a press conference in New Delhi, and the ceremony is set for September 22, with President Droupadi Murmu expected to present the awards. Notable wins include 'Article 370' for Best Feature Film, Yami Gautam for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Rajkumar Periasamy for Best Direction.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on the logistics and outcomes of the National Film Awards, focusing on the location change and award winners. It does not engage in political discourse, nor does it frame the event in a politically charged manner. The content remains neutral and factual, providing information on
Why factuality (88): This article confirms the relocation of the National Film Awards to Kevadia, Gujarat, and provides additional details such as the announcement date (July 18) and specific award categories and winners. It aligns closely with the consensus from the first article and adds more specifics about the winne
Why objectivity (85): The article maintains an objective tone, reporting facts without apparent bias. It presents the information in a straightforward manner, focusing on the event details and outcomes without injecting personal opinion or emotional language.
Deccan HeraldIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 809/8/2026
The 72nd National Film Awards will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, according to a statement from the Information and Broadcasting ministry. This decision is framed as a policy initiative to bring the event beyond New Delhi, emphasizing regional representation and the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' vision. The awards, established in 1954, recognize excellence in Indian cinema across multiple languages and genres, with notable winners including 'Article 370' for Best Feature Film and Yami Gautam for Best Actress. The ceremony will be presided over by President Droupadi Murmu on September 22. While the ministry highlights the shift as a positive development, critics raise concerns about potential political influence and the credibility of the awards.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the government's initiative to decentralize the National Film Awards as a balanced policy move, citing historical precedents like the 1971 Chennai event. It provides factual information about the awards, winners, and locations without overtly favoring any political agenda. While
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, presenting the information objectively without emotional language or overt bias. However, there is a slight promotional undertone in phrases like 'embody the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’' which may lean slightly towards government approval.
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