President Droupadi Murmu will confer honours upon 92 artists at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony on September 22 at 3 pm in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia.

Grand Preparations at Ekta Nagar

The landscape surrounding the iconic Statue of Unity in Gujarat is witnessing an unprecedented flurry of activity as final preparations come together for one of the film industry’s most celebrated annual events. Excitement is palpably building across the venue, where an elaborate infrastructure setup has been deployed to accommodate cinematic figures, high-ranking government officials, and national media arriving in Gujarat.

To ensure a seamless experience for attendees, officials have erected a massive open-air pandal with seating arranged for approximately 1,000 attendees. Adjacent to this, a specialized air-conditioned VIP dome has been constructed using a high-tech German-engineered structure designed to comfortably host more than 1,000 high-profile guests, artists, and dignitaries.

A total of 92 artists are set to receive honours at the 72nd National Film Awards.

Star-Studded Gathering and Distinguished Guests

Early delegations from the film fraternity have already commenced their arrival in Kevadia, setting the stage for a grand confluence of mainstream Bollywood and vibrant regional cinema talents. President Murmu will preside over the ceremony alongside Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, alongside senior state and central government leaders.

Among the headline achievements being celebrated, Kartik shares the Best Actor award with Malayalam cinema titan Mammootty, recognized for their compelling performances in Chandu Champion and Bramayugam respectively. Meanwhile, Article 370 secured the prestigious Best Feature Film award, with Yami Gautam taking home Best Actress honors for her lead role in the film. Randeep Hooda will receive recognition as Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, while Bhangar earned the Best Non-Feature Film title.

A central highlight of the event will be the presentation of the 2024 Dadasaheb Phalke Award to legendary actor Anant Nag, celebrating his remarkable contributions to Indian cinema. For audiences worldwide eager to witness the celebrations, the ceremony will be streamed live via the official DD National YouTube channel beginning at 3 pm IST on Tuesday, September 22.