National Film Awards 2025: While Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail won the award for Best Feature Film, the National Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role was shared by Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan and Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail while Rani Mukerji won the Best Actress honour. 

 National Film Awards 2025: The winners of the 71st National Film Awards were announced at the National Media Centre in New Delhi on Friday. While Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail won the award for Best Feature Film, the National Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role was shared by Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan and Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail. Meanwhile, Rani Mukerji received the National Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. Other notable winners include The Kerala Story’s Sudipto Sen (Best Direction), Vijayaraghavan and Muthupettai Somu Bhaska (Best Supporting Actor), Janki Bodiwala and Urvashi (Best Supporting Actress), Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani (Best Popular Film for Entertainment), Kathal (Best Hindi Film), Ullazhukku (Best Malayalam Film), Parking (Best Tamil Film) and Bhagavanth Kesari (Best Telugu Film). For these awards, films that received their certification from CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, were eligible. 2023 was one of the more successful years for Indian cinema in the recent past. The year saw the release of popular Hindi films like Pathaan, Animal, 12th Fail, OMG 2, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, The Kerala Story, Adipurush. In Telugu cinema, films like Sita Ramam, Month of Madhu, Balagam, Dasara among others. In Tamil cinema, films like Jailer and Leo proved to be massive blockbusters. Malayalam films like Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam, 2018 Everyone is a Hero, Iratta, Kaathal – The Core, Adrishya Jalakangal also released in 2023. 

71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners Live Updates: Ronnie Screwvala celebrates double win 

 Producer Ronnie Screwvala expressed his happiness as two of his productiob projects won big at the 71st National Film Awards. “Winning the prestigious National Award for two of our very special films – Sam Bahadur and the Malayalam one – Ullozhukku, is indeed a matter of great pride for all of us at RSVP. We strive to make cinema that leaves an impact. While we are overwhelmed with these honours, we express our deepest gratitude to the jury and the audiences for their tremendous love and support. This only motivates us to continue creating meaningful and impactful cinema.” 

71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners Live Updates: ‘A 20-year-old boy’s dream has come true’, says Vikrant Massey 

 Vikrant Massey on his first National Award win: “I want to thank the Honourable Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the NFDC, and all the esteemed jury members of the 71st National Film Awards for considering my performance worthy of this recognition. I also want to thank Shri Vidhu Vinod Chopra ji for giving me this opportunity. Today, if I may say so, a 20-year-old boy’s dream has come true. I am eternally grateful to the audiences for honouring my performances and for recommending this film with such love. It is a privilege to be sharing my first National Award with an icon like Shah Rukh Khan. Lastly, I dedicate this award to all the marginalised people in our society — those who are often looked through, and those who are fighting the socio-economic paradigm of our country every single day.” 

71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners Live Updates: Christo Tomy says it took him 8 years to make Ullozhukku 

 As Ullozhukku receives the National Award for The Best Malayalam Film, director shares it took him eight years to make this film. In an interview with Asianet, Christo Tomy said, “While making the movie, my only wish was that people would receive it well. But now that it bagged such an award, my happiness has only increased. I express my sincere gratitude to the cast and crew, as well as my family. It took me eight years to get the movie rolling. Though the script was ready, since it needed to be headlined by two women, it wasn’t easy to get financial backing. Although we finally managed to commence production, it was halted due to the Covid situation. There were times when I was genuinely concerned whether we would be able to complete it. The movie was shot at my maternal house, and for about one and a half years, my relatives there had to stay at another house. Although we faced such challenges, the fact that we got Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu to play the lead characters itself helped us heave a sigh o 

71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners Live Updates: GV Prakash thanks Dhanush for his special win 

 GV Prakash expressed his excitement in receiving the award for the second time. He penned a long note: “A blessing for the second time. I am truly overwhelmed and deeply grateful to receive the 71st National Film Award for Best Music Director for the film Vaathi. My heartfelt thanks to the esteemed jury and selection committee. Thank you to the entire team of Vaathi for being part of this beautiful journey. Special thanks to my brother Dhanush, who chose me for this film. Our continuous collaboration–from Polladhavan to Asuran, Vaathi and Idly Kadai–has been creatively fulfilling and rewarding for both of us. A big thank you to my director Venky Atluri, who inspired me to give my best and trusted me with the music for this film. From Vaathi to Lucky Bhaskar, and now onto our next project–thank you, Venky, for the consistent trust and for bringing blockbuster moments into our journey. Thanks to our producers, Nagavamsi and Trivikram, for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I am immensely grateful to my family, my incredible team of musicians, lyricists, technicians, my dear friends, and all my fans who have supported and believed in me. Thank you, Universe.

71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners Live Updates: Rani Mukerji dedicates National Award to ‘mothers’ 

 As rani Mukerji received her first National Film Award at 71st National Awards for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, she dedicated the honour to mothers. “I dedicate my National Award to all the incredible mothers of this world. There is nothing like a mother’s love and her ferocity to protect her own. The story of this Indian immigrant mother who went all out for her child and took on a nation shook me deeply.. a mother’s love for her child is unconditional.. I realised this when I had my own. So, this win, this film feels deeply emotional and personal. A mother can move mountains for her children and also make the world a better place. This film tried to show this,” she said after her win.

71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners Live Updates: Rani Mukerji on winning her first National Award for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway 

 Rani Mukerji was honoured with a National Film Award for the first time in her long and storied career. The actor received Best Actress Award at the 71st National Film Awards. “I’m overwhelmed to have won the National Award for my performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. Incidentally, this is the first ever National Award in my 30 year career. As an actor, I have been fortunate to have some incredible films in my body of work and have got so much love for them. I thank the National Award jury for honouring my work in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. I share this moment with the entire team of the film, my producers Nikkhil Advani, Monisha and Madhu, my director Ashima Chibber, and everyone who worked on this truly special project that celebrated the resilience of motherhood. For me, this award is also a validation of my 30 year body of work, my dedication to my craft with which I feel a deeply spiritual connection and my passion for cinema and this beautiful film industry of ours.   

 “It also feels the apt time to again thank all my fans, from across the world, who have relentlessly supported me through thick and thin for these 30 years! Your unconditional love and support is everything that I have ever needed to stay motivated, to show up at work every day and to deliver performances that have entertained you. You’ve embraced every role, every character, every story I’ve had the good fortune to bring to life. So, without you I would be a nobody today,” she wrote. 

 71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners Live Updates: Guneet Monga on Kathal winning Best Hindi Film 

 As Kathal wins Best Hindi Film at the 71st National Film Awards, producer Guneet Monga shared a statement, “Every time a story from the heart of India is honoured, it’s a win for every voice that deserves to be heard. We are incredibly honoured to receive the Best Hindi Film award for Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery at the 71st National Film Awards. Grateful beyond words for this recognition. 

 “A heartfelt congratulations to our brilliant director Yashowardhan Mishra, and his co-writers Ashok Mishra, for crafting a story that is sharp, original, and deeply human. Huge thanks to our producing partners Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor at Balaji Telefilms. 
Immense gratitude for our trusted platform partner Netflix India and the incredible Monika Shergill, Ruchika Kapoor Sheikh. Shout out to Pratiksha Rao and Ankita Singh who started this journey. Kathal wouldn’t have been possible without the unconditional support of my co-producer Achin Jain and the incredible team at Sikhya Entertainment, this journey wouldn’t have been possible without your belief and support. And to Sanya Malhotra, your performance as Mahima was both powerful and full of heart. You brought Mahima to life with such nuance, warmth, and unwavering strength, dil jeet liya! Thank you for leading this story with such grace, authenticity, and quiet power.” She dedicated Kathal’s National Film Award win to “every storyteller who dares to look closer and tell stories that matter.” 

 71st National Film Awards 2025 Winners Live Updates: Karan Johar on Dhindora Baje Re’s National Award win 

 It feels surreal, 2 years on… to receive so much love for a film that we put so much love in. To have everyone across the world resonate so deeply, that they choose to call the story, the music, the characters, the dance and everything – their OWN!  

 Karan Johar wrote a heartfelt note on Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani winning 2 National Film Awards at the 71st National Awards. “My deepest gratitude once again to the National Film Awards for having Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani receive this honour for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. And my biggest love & hugs to @vaibhavi.merchant and her team for giving us the Best Choreography for Dhindhora Baje Re! I’m a happy man today, and I will remain forever grateful for this?? Fun fact – it feels magical to win the same award as you did for your first film, again??.”