The 72nd National Film Awards were officially presented by President Droupadi Murmu on 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar (formerly Kevadia) in Gujarat, honoring cinematic excellence for the year 2024. Alongside the prestigious Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) and Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) medallions, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting awarded rationalised cash prizes to major category winners.
72nd National Film Awards Cash Prizes
Following recent reforms by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Swarna Kamal categories carry a cash reward of ₹3,00,000, while Rajat Kamal categories provide ₹2,00,000 per recipient. For lifetime achievements, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award includes a Swarna Kamal, a shawl, and a prize endowment of ₹15,00,000.
| Category / Awardee | Film / Contribution | Medal / Award | Cash Prize |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award (Anant Nag) | Lifetime Achievement in Indian Cinema | Swarna Kamal | ₹15,00,000 |
| Best Feature Film (Article 370) | Producer (Jio Studios/B62) & Director | Swarna Kamal | ₹3,00,000 each |
| Best Popular Feature Film (Kalki 2898 AD) | Producer & Director (Nag Ashwin) | Swarna Kamal | ₹3,00,000 each |
| Best Debut Director (Randeep Hooda) | Swatantrya Veer Savarkar | Swarna Kamal | ₹3,00,000 |
| Best Direction (Rajkumar Periasamy) | Amaran | Swarna Kamal | ₹3,00,000 |
| Best Actress (Yami Gautam) | Article 370 | Rajat Kamal | ₹2,00,000 |
| Best Actor (Mammootty & Kartik Aaryan) | Bramayugam / Chandu Champion | Rajat Kamal | ₹2,00,000 (shared) |
| Best Supporting Actor (Sanjay Mishra) | Bhakshak | Rajat Kamal | ₹2,00,000 |
| Technical & Musical Categories | Sound, Editing, Music, Cinematography | Rajat Kamal | ₹2,00,000 each |
Key Highlights Of 72nd National Film Awards Edition
Historic Venue: Held outside New Delhi for the first time in its 70-plus year history, hosted near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.
Shared Honors: The Best Actor title was shared between Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan.
Top Feature Winner: Article 370 secured the Best Feature Film title along with individual wins for Yami Gautam (Best Actress) and Shashwat Sachdev (Best Music Direction).
FAQs
Q1: What is the prize money for the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) award?
A: Major Swarna Kamal categories carry a cash prize of ₹3,00,000 each for eligible winners (such as producers, directors, and best feature film recipients).
Q2: How much cash prize is awarded for Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) winners?
A: Rajat Kamal category winners including Best Actor, Best Actress, and technical awards receive ₹2,00,000. If an award is shared, the monetary sum is split among the co-winners.