Cinema VinesActor Paresh Rawal has publicly defended Gujarat’s selection as the host state for the 72nd National Film Awards, insisting that the region is an integral part of India and that there is nothing wrong with holding major national events there. In an interview with ANI, Rawal questioned the notion that Gujarat could be seen as separate from the country, saying, “Is Gujarat in Bangladesh or Pakistan? It is also a part of our own country. Why shouldn’t this event be held in Gujarat? Events should be held in Gujarat too… I say such events should take place in every state. There is nothing wrong with that.”
The 72nd edition of the National Film Awards will take place in Kevadia, a town in the state of Gujarat, rather than the capital city where the ceremony has traditionally been held for many years. Scheduled for September 22, the event will bring together filmmakers from across India and is part of a broader policy initiative by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to spread national celebrations beyond the capital, reflecting the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” (One India, Best India).
Instituted in 1954, the National Film Awards are the country’s most prestigious honours for excellence in cinema, recognising achievements in feature films, non‑feature films and writing on cinema. Over seven decades, the awards have highlighted the linguistic, cultural and regional diversity of Indian filmmaking.
In addition to the ceremony’s location, the awards list includes several notable winners. Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty were jointly honoured with the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for their performances in Chandu Champion and Bramayugam, respectively. Yami Gautam will receive the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for Article 370, while Randeep Hooda will be awarded Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. The Best Feature Film award will go to Article 370, the Best Non‑Feature Film to Bhangaar, and the Best Documentary to Ram‑Nami. The awards also recognise excellence across a range of languages, including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu and Garhwali, among others.
Several high‑profile films are set to receive honours in various categories, such as Kalki 2898 AD, Amaran, Pushpa: The Rule Part‑02, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Stree 2. For the first time, a Santhali film will be honoured in the Non‑Feature Film section of the National Film Awards, underscoring the event’s commitment to celebrating India’s diverse cinematic traditions.
