The most prestigious honours in Indian cinema just dropped! The 71st National Film Awards were unveiled on August 1, 2025, and it’s raining glory, gold, and a whole lot of goosebumps. From Bollywood’s OG Baadshah Shah Rukh Khan bagging the top spot to Vikrant Massey proving he’s not just another pretty face, the winners list is serving talent, excellence, and cinema goals.
The Big Winners You Need To Know About The National Awards 2025
Feature films:
- Special mentions: MR Rajakrishnan (Animal – Re-Recording)
- Best Tai Phake Film: Pai Tang…Step of Hope
- Best Garo Film: Rimdottianga
- Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari
- Best Tamil Film: Parking
- Best Punjabi Film: Godday Godday Chaa
- Best Odia Film: Pushkara
- Best Marathi Film: Shyamchi Aai
- Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku
- Best Kannada Film: Kandeelu
- Best Hindi Film: Kathal
- Best Gujarati Film: Vash
- Best Bengali Film: Deep Fridge
- Best Assamese Film: Rongatapu 1982
- Best Action Direction: Nandu-Prudhvi (HanuMan)
- Best Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant (Dindhora Baje Re – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani)
- Best Lyrics: Kasarla Shyam (Ooru Palleturu – Balagam)
- Best Music Direction: GV Prakash Kumar (Vaathi), Harshavardhan Rameshwar (Animal)
- Best Makeup: Shrikanth Desai (Sam Bahadur)
- Best Costume Design: Sachin, Divya, Nidhhi (Sam Bahadur)
- Best Production Design: Mohandas (2018)
- Best Editing: Midhun Murali (Pookkaalam)
- Best Sound Design: Sachin Sudhakaran, Hariharan (Animal)
- Best Screenplay: Sai Rajesh (Baby), Ramkumar Balakrishnan (Parking)
- Best Dialogue: Deepak Kingrani (Sirf Ek Bandha Kaafi Hai)
- Best Cinematography: Prasanthanu Mohapatra (The Kerala Story)
- Best Playback Singer: Shilpa Rao (Chaleya – Jawan), Rohit (Premisthunna – Baby)
- Best Child Artist: Sukriti Bandireddi (Gandhi Thatha Chettu), Kabir Khandare (Gypsy), Treesha Toshar, Shrinivas Pokale, Bhargav (Naal 2)
- Best Actor In Supporting Role: Urvashi (Ullozhukku), Janki Bodiwala (Vash), Vijayaraghavan (Pookalam), Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar (Parking)
- Best Actor In Leading Role: Rani Mukerji (Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway), Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan), Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)
- Best Direction: Sudipto Sen (The Kerala Story)
- Best Film in AVGC: HanuMan
- Best Children’s Film: Naal 2
- Best Film Promoting National, Social Values: Sam Bahadur
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
- Best Debut Film: Aatmapamphlet
- Best Film: 12th Fail
Non-feature films:
- Special Mentions: Nekal – Chronicle of the Paddy Man, The Sea and the Seven Villages
- Best Script: Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know
- Best Voiceover: Hari Krishnan S (The Sacred Jack – Exploring The Tree of Wishes)
- Best Music Direction: Pranil Desai (The First Film)
- Best Editing: Niladri Roy (Moving Focus)
- Best Sound Design: Shubarun Sengupta (Dhundhgiri Ke Phool)
- Best Cinematography: Meenakshi Soman, Saravanamaruthu (Little Wings)
- Best Direction: Piyush Thakur (The First Film)
- Best Short Film: Giddh The Scavenger
- Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values: The Silent Epidemic
- Best Documentary Film: God Vulture and Human
- Best Art/Culture Film: Timeless Tamil Nadu
- Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction Film: Mo Bou Mo Gaan, Lentina Ao
- Best Debut Film: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw
- Best Non-Fiction Film: Flowering Man
The official announcement happened with all the pomp at New Delhi’s National Media Centre, with jury members presenting names that will be etched into Indian cinema history. Commercial hits or not, the National Awards continue to honour films that make you feel.
Congratulations to all the winners!
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