The 72nd National Film Awards honoured top achievements across Indian cinema for the 2024 eligibility cycle. Presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, the ceremony highlighted both creative excellence and shifts in state cultural policy. For the legal community, the awards offer a clear view of how film regulation, constitutional themes, government patronage, and administrative policy intersect in practice.
Key Highlights & Winners
| Award Category | Recipient / Film | Language | Key Significance |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Anant Nag | Kannada / Pan-Indian | Lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. |
| Best Feature Film | Article 370 (Dir. Aditya Suhas Jambhale) | Hindi | Dramatic focus on constitutional history and security policy. |
| Best Actor (Joint) | Mammootty (Bramayugam) & Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) | Malayalam / Hindi | Lead roles in psychological drama and biographical storytelling. |
| Best Actress | Yami Gautam (Article 370) | Hindi | Lead role in a narrative centered on administrative and legal history. |
| Best Direction | Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran) | Tamil | Directorial focus on military history and biography. |
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Randeep Hooda (Swatantrya Veer Savarkar) | Hindi | Directorial work exploring historical political figures. |
| Best Popular Film | Kalki 2898 AD (Dir. Nag Ashwin) | Telugu / Pan-Indian | Technical integration and large-scale speculative storytelling. |
| Social & Environmental Values | Captain Miller (Dir. Arun Matheswaran) | Tamil | Direct engagement with social equality and historical resistance. |
| Best Non-Feature Film | Bhangaar (Dir. Sumira Roy) | Marathi / English | Focus on waste management, recycling, and environmental care. |
1. Legal and Regulatory Framework
The National Film Awards run on a formal framework managed by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
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Statutory Certification: To enter, a film must hold a valid certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), issued under Section 5A of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 during the relevant calendar year.
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Jury Selection Structure: The evaluation relies on central and regional panels set up by the Ministry. Submissions go through initial regional committees (covering Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern zones) before reaching the central jury.
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Standardized Cash Prizes: Monetary awards follow a simplified structure:
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Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus): Includes a cash prize of ₹3,00,000 for top honors like Best Feature Film and Best Direction.
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Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus): Includes a cash prize of ₹2,00,000 for acting, technical, and regional language categories.
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2. Constitutional Themes in Modern Indian Cinema
Films often interact with public law, constitutional rights, and legal history. The 72nd edition showcased several projects with direct links to legal themes:
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Constitutional History on Screen: Article 370 winning Best Feature Film shows how mainstream movies now tackle complex legal and administrative decisions. The film focuses on the policy mechanics behind the abrogation of Article 370, bringing constitutional debate to a general audience.
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Free Speech and Biopics: Recognition for films like Swatantrya Veer Savarkar shows how speech protections under Article 19(1)(a) allow directors to revisit court records, trial histories, and political figures through a modern lens.
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Directive Principles and Social Justice: Awards given to Captain Miller and Bhangaar align state recognition with constitutional goals under Article 48A and Article 51A(g), which cover environmental protection and social equality.
3. Federalism and Event Location
Moving the ceremony away from Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan to Ekta Nagar in Gujarat marks a practical shift in how the Ministry hosts national events. Holding the event outside the capital supports cooperative federalism by spreading major cultural honors to different states.
The winners list also showed strong regional diversity. Recognition went to films in Eighth Schedule languages as well as regional languages like Santhali (Angen), Garhwali (Dholi), and Tulu (IMBU), sitting alongside major mainstream industries like Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and Marathi.
4. Intellectual Property and Media Law Trends
The commercial side of the winning films reflects broader changes in entertainment law:
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Complex Rights Deals: Big-budget winners like Kalki 2898 AD point to intricate copyright setups, including multi-territory theatrical rights, music synchronization licenses, and global streaming deals.
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Film Scholarship and Archival Work: The award for Best Book on Cinema (Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi) highlights the role of copyright law in protecting film research, archival documentation, and commentary under fair use rules.
The 72nd National Film Awards highlight how state recognition mirrors statutory standards, federal policy, and changing themes in Indian media law.