The National Film Awards are one of the most prestigious honours in Indian cinema. They are presented every year by the Government of India to celebrate excellence in filmmaking. These awards recognise the best films, performances, and technical achievements across various languages and genres.
Unlike other awards, the National Film Awards are known for their unbiased and merit-based selection process. Films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year are eligible.
The awards are announced by a jury appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals and are presented by the President of India. Winning a National Film Award is considered an outstanding achievement by filmmakers and actors alike.
In this article, we'll take a look at the Full List of National Film Awards 2025 Winners, including top honours like Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, and more.
List of National Film Awards 2025 Winners
According to the National Film Awards, here are the winners for the 71st National Film Awards:
Category | Winner(s) | Film(s) |
Best Actor |
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Best Actress | Rani Mukerji | Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway |
Best Supporting Actor |
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Best Supporting Actress |
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Best Feature Film | - | 12th Fail |
Best Film in Hindi | - | Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery |
Best Film in Telugu | - | Bhagavanth Kesari |
Best Film in Tamil | - | Parking |
Best Film in Punjabi | - | Godday Godday Chaa |
Best Film in Odia | - | Pushkara |
Best Film in Marathi | - | Shyamchi Aai |
Best Film in Malayalam | - | Ullozhukku |
Best Film in Kannada | - | Kandeelu: The Ray of Hope |
Best Film in Gujarati | - | Vash |
Best Film in Bengali | - | Deep Fridge |
Best Film in Assamese | - | Rongatapu 1982 |
Best Direction | Sudipto Sen | The Kerala Story |
Best Choreography | Vaibhavi Merchant | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani |
Best Action Direction | Nandu and Prudhvi | Hanu-Man |
Best Lyrics | Kasarla Shyam | Balagam |
Best Music Direction | G.V. Prakash Kumar (Songs)Harshavardhan Rameshwar (BGM) | VaathiAnimal |
Best Male Playback Singer | P.V.N. S. Rohit | Baby |
Best Female Playback Singer | Shilpa Rao | Jawan |
Best Cinematography | Prasanthanu Mohapatra | The Kerala Story |
Best Editing | Midhun Murali | Pookkaalam |
Best Sound Design | Sachin Sudhakaran, Hariharan | Animal |
Best Production Design | Mohandas | 2018 - Everyone is a Hero |
Best Make-up | Shrikanth Desai | Sam Bahadur |
Best Costume Designer | Sachin, Divya, Nidhhi | Sam Bahadur |
Special Mention | M.R. Radhakrishnan (Re-recording mixer) | Animal |
The 71st National Film Awards celebrated the finest cinematic achievements of the year, showcasing a diverse range of talent and storytelling from across the nation.
The awards highlighted both commercial blockbusters and critically acclaimed films, with a notable mix of veteran and emerging artists being honoured.
Shah Rukh Khan's first National Award for Jawan, shared with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail, was a major highlight, as was Rani Mukerji's win for Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway.
The awards also recognised the rich cultural diversity of Indian cinema, with a wide array of regional films receiving top honours, reinforcing the National Film Awards' commitment to celebrating the breadth and depth of Indian filmmaking.
Which movie got the National Award in 2025?
Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail was awarded Best Feature Film at the 71st National Film Awards, announced on 1 August 2025, recognising films certified between January 1 and December 31, 2023.
The film also earned Vikrant Massey the Best Actor trophy (shared with Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan). Chopra’s powerful storytelling and emotionally resonant performances made 12th Fail a standout in the awards season, underscoring its resonance with critics and audiences alike.
71st National Film Awards 2025 Ceremony
The 71st National Film Awards ceremony, honoring the best of Indian cinema from the year 2023, was held on September 23, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu.
The winners of the awards were officially announced in a press conference on August 1, 2025, at the National Media Centre in New Delhi.
Here are some of the key winners from the 71st National Film Awards:
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Mohanlal
- Best Feature Film: 12th Fail (Hindi)
- Best Hindi Film: Kathal – A Jackfruit Mystery
- 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 Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
- Best Male Playback Singer: P V N S Rohit (Baby, Telugu)
- Best Female Playback Singer: Shilpa Rao (Jawan, Hindi)
- Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values: Sam Bahadur
- Best Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani)
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