The 71st National Film Awards, unveiled by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on August 1, 2025, celebrated India’s cinematic triumphs of 2023, honouring actors who brought realism and social relevance to the screen.
Vikrant Massey and Shah Rukh Khan jointly bagged the Best Actor award for their performances in 12th Fail and Jawan, respectively. Massey portrayed Manoj Kumar Sharma, an IPS officer who rose from poverty, in a gritty biographical drama directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Khan’s dual portrayal in Jawan — as vigilante Azad and his mentor Vikram Rathore — captured public imagination with its blend of action and social messaging.
Rani Mukerji earned Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, a film based on the real story of Sagarika Chakraborty, whose children were removed by Norway’s child services over cultural misunderstandings. Mukerji’s powerful depiction of Debika, a mother battling state systems, resonated with critics and audiences alike.
🎬 71st National Film Awards 2025 – Key Highlights
Here’s a crisp summary of the major announcements and winners from this year’s prestigious event held at the National Media Centre, New Delhi:
🏆 Top Honours
- Best Actor (Joint Award): Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) & Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)
- Best Actress: Rani Mukerji (Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway)
- Best Hindi Film: Kathal
- Best Film (Overall): 12th Fail
- Best Direction: Sudipto Sen (The Kerala Story)
🌍 Best Regional Films
| Language | Film Title |
|---|---|
| Odia | Pushkara |
| Marathi | Shyamchi Aai |
| Tamil | Parking |
| Telugu | Bhagavanth Kesari |
| Malayalam | Ullozhukku |
| Punjabi | Godday Godday Chaa |
| Assamese | Rongatapu 1982 |
| Bengali | Deep Fridge |
| Kannada | Kandeelu |
| Gujarati | Vash |
| Garo | Rimdottianga |
| Tai Phake | Pai TangStep of Hope |
- Best Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant (Dindhora Baje Re)
- Best Screenplay: Baby, Parking
- Best Cinematography: Prasanthanu Mohapatra (The Kerala Story)
- Best Music Direction: GV Prakash Kumar (Vaathi) & Harshavardhan Rameshwar (Animal)
- Best Supporting Actors: Urvashi (Ullozhukku), Janki Bodiwala (Vash), Vijayaraghavan (Pookalam), Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar (Parking)
🧒 Children & AVGC Category
- Best Children’s Film: Naal 2
- Best AVGC Film: Hanu-Man
- Best Film Promoting National/Social Values: Sam Bahadur
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
🎥 Non-Feature Highlights
- Best Documentary Film: God Vulture and Human
- Best Art/Culture Film: Timeless Tamil Nadu
- Best Biographical Film: Mo Bou Mo Gaan, Lentina Ao
- Best Short Film: Giddh: The Scavenger
- Best Non-Fiction Film: Flowering Man
