71st National Film Awards 2025 highlights winners including Mohanlal for Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, and top regional films. Get full list and key updates.
ntroduction to the 71st National Film Awards
On September 23, 2025, the 71st National Film Awards ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, marking a significant event in the Indian film industry. President Droupadi Murmu presided over the ceremony, honoring outstanding contributions to Indian cinema for the year 2023. The awards recognized excellence across various categories, including feature films, non-feature films, and technical achievements.
Highlights of the Ceremony
The ceremony witnessed the conferral of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award to veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal, acknowledging his lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. In the feature film category, ’12th Fail’ directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra was honored as the Best Feature Film. Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey shared the Best Actor award for their performances in ‘Jawan’ and ’12th Fail’, respectively. Rani Mukerji received the Best Actress award for her role in ‘Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway’. The Best Director award went to Sudipto Sen for ‘The Kerala Story’
Regional Film Awards
The awards also celebrated regional cinema, with ‘Bhagavanth Kesari’ winning Best Telugu Film, ‘Parking’ receiving Best Tamil Film, and ‘Kandeelu: The Ray of Hope’ being honored as the Best Kannada Film. Other notable regional awards included ‘Pushkara’ for Best Odia Film and ‘Vash’ for Best Gujarati Film
Non-Feature Film and Technical Awards
In the non-feature film category, ‘Flowering Man’ was recognized as the Best Non-Feature Film. The Best Documentary award was conferred upon ‘God Vulture and Human’, directed by Rishiraj Agarwal. Technical awards highlighted excellence in various aspects of filmmaking, including sound design, editing, and production design
Why This News Is Important
Significance for Students Preparing for Government Exams
The 71st National Film Awards ceremony is a landmark event in the Indian cultural landscape, reflecting the nation’s cinematic achievements. For students preparing for government exams, especially those in civil services like IAS and PSCS, understanding the cultural and artistic milestones recognized by the government is crucial. The awards highlight the government’s role in promoting and preserving India’s diverse cultural heritage, an aspect often emphasized in general studies papers.
Reflection of Government’s Cultural Policies
The recognition of films across various languages and genres underscores the government’s commitment to fostering cultural diversity and regional cinema. This aligns with policies aimed at promoting inclusive growth in the cultural sector, a topic relevant to questions on government schemes and initiatives.
Enhancing Cultural Awareness
Familiarity with the winners and their contributions provides students with insights into the evolving trends in Indian cinema. This knowledge can be beneficial for answering questions related to Indian culture, art, and history in exams.
Historical Context
Evolution of the National Film Awards
Established in 1954 by the Government of India, the National Film Awards aim to honor the best of Indian cinema. Over the decades, the awards have evolved to encompass a wide range of categories, reflecting the dynamic nature of the film industry. The introduction of regional film awards in the 1960s marked a significant step towards recognizing the linguistic and cultural diversity of Indian cinema.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Named after Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest honor in the Indian film industry. It recognizes individuals for their lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. The award has been conferred upon luminaries such as Raj Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, and Amitabh Bachchan, highlighting the government’s acknowledgment of exceptional talent and dedication to the cinematic arts.
Key Takeaways from the 71st National Film Awards
| S.No | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mohanlal received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinematic honor. |
| 2 | ’12th Fail’ won Best Feature Film, highlighting the importance of storytelling in education. |
| 3 | Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey shared the Best Actor award, marking a significant milestone in their careers. |
| 4 | Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for her portrayal in ‘Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway’, emphasizing the role of women in cinema. |
| 5 | Regional films like ‘Bhagavanth Kesari’ and ‘Parking’ were recognized, showcasing the diversity of Indian cinema. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the 71st National Film Awards?
The 71st National Film Awards, held on September 23, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, recognize outstanding contributions to Indian cinema across feature films, non-feature films, regional films, and technical achievements.
2. Who received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2025?
Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
3. Which film won the Best Feature Film award?
The film ’12th Fail,’ directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, won the Best Feature Film award at the 71st National Film Awards.
4. Who were awarded Best Actor and Best Actress?
Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey shared the Best Actor award for ‘Jawan’ and ’12th Fail,’ while Rani Mukerji won the Best Actress award for ‘Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway.’
5. Which films were recognized in regional categories?
‘Bhagavanth Kesari’ (Telugu), ‘Parking’ (Tamil), ‘Kandeelu: The Ray of Hope’ (Kannada), ‘Pushkara’ (Odia), and ‘Vash’ (Gujarati) were recognized for their excellence in regional cinema.
6. What is the significance of National Film Awards for students preparing for exams?
These awards reflect India’s cultural achievements, government policies promoting cinema, and regional diversity, which are important topics in general studies for civil services, banking, and other government exams.
7. Who received the Best Director award in 2025?
Sudipto Sen received the Best Director award for the film ‘The Kerala Story.’
8. Which non-feature film won at the awards?
‘Flowering Man’ was recognized as the Best Non-Feature Film, highlighting innovative storytelling in documentaries and short films.
9. What is the historical significance of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award?
It is the highest recognition in Indian cinema, awarded for lifetime contribution, named after the father of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke.
10. Where can students access the full winners list?
Students can find the complete list of winners on official sites and credible news portals such as News24Online and Deccan Herald.
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