The winners were announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in New Delhi on Saturday, celebrating films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year.

One of the most closely watched categories, Best Actor, resulted in a tie. Kartik Aaryan was honoured for his transformation and performance in Chandu Champion, while veteran Malayalam superstar Mammootty received the award for his critically acclaimed role in Bramayugam. The joint honour marks another milestone in Mammootty's celebrated career and gives Kartik Aaryan his first National Film Award.

For Yami Gautam, the recognition marks the biggest achievement of her film career so far. Her performance in Article 370, a political action drama inspired by the constitutional changes in Jammu and Kashmir, was widely praised by critics and audiences alike. The film's success at the National Film Awards underlined its impact, with both the lead performance and the film itself receiving top honours.

Kartik Aaryan's victory comes after months of appreciation for his portrayal of Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in Chandu Champion. Directed by Kabir Khan, the sports biographical drama demanded an extensive physical and emotional transformation from the actor, making it one of the most challenging performances of his career.

Mammootty's award-winning performance in Bramayugam further strengthened his reputation as one of India's finest actors. The Malayalam psychological horror drama had already received widespread critical acclaim, and the National Award added another prestigious honour to the veteran actor's long list of achievements.

Apart from the acting honours, regional cinema once again made a strong impression across multiple categories, reflecting the diversity of storytelling in Indian cinema. The National Film Awards continued their tradition of recognising excellence across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema, with entries representing numerous Indian languages competing for the top honours.

The announcement triggered celebrations across the film industry. Directors, actors and filmmakers congratulated the winners on social media, while fans hailed the recognition of performances that had generated significant appreciation over the past year. Yami Gautam later expressed gratitude to everyone associated with Article 370, describing the honour as a dream fulfilled, while filmmaker Aditya Dhar also celebrated the film's success.

The National Film Awards remain India's highest official recognition for cinematic excellence. Administered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the awards honour artistic merit, technical achievement and storytelling across the country's film industries, often highlighting performances and films beyond commercial success. This year's winners once again reflected the growing influence of regional cinema alongside mainstream Hindi films.