71st National Film Awards: Celebrating the Best of Indian Cinema (2025)
The winners of the 71st National Film Awards were announced on August 1, 2025, at the National Media Centre in New Delhi. The awards recognised the best of Indian cinema released and certified by the CBFC between January 1 and December 31, 2023.
Despite box office hits like Pathaan, Animal, and Jawan, the National Awards celebrated excellence across genres and languages, with special attention to storytelling, craft, and impact.
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Below is a highlight of some of the major winners across categories:
Feature Film Categories
| Category | Winner |
| Best Film | 12th Fail |
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani |
| Best Director | Sudipto Sen (The Kerala Story) |
| Best Actor (Male) | Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan), Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) |
| Best Actor (Female) | Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway) |
| Best Supporting Actor | Vijayaraghavan (Pookalam), Bhaskar (Parking) |
| Best Supporting Actress | Urvashi (Ullozhukku), Janki Bodiwala (Vash) |
| Best Debut Film | Aatmapamphlet |
| Best Children’s Film | Naal 2 |
| Best Film Promoting Social/National Values | Sam Bahadur |
| Best AVGC Film | HanuMan |
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Non-Feature Film Winners
| Category | Winner |
| Best Non-Feature Film | God Vulture and Human |
| Best Debut Non-Feature Film | The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw |
| Best Short Film | Giddh – The Scavenger |
| Best Direction | The First Film – Piyush Thakur |
| Best Editing | Moving Focus – Niladri Roy |
| Best Music | The First Film – Pranil Desai |
| Best Sound Design | Dhundhgiri Ke Phool |
| Best Script | Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know |
| Best Film Promoting Environmental/Social Values | The Silent Epidemic |
The 71st National Film Awards reflect the diversity and richness of Indian cinema in 2023. From powerful performances to meaningful stories across languages, these awards highlight that Indian cinema is more than just entertainment—it’s a cultural force. Whether it’s a blockbuster or a quiet indie film, every story has its place.
