Sep 08, 2026 3:36pm IST
National Film Awards Move to Gujarat After 71 Years in New Delhi, Will Be Held in New Location Every Year
The National Film Awards are moving away from the national capital. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting recently announced that the 72nd National Film Awards will be held in Gujarat. In a new update, the ministry has shared that the ceremony will now be conducted in different locations every year instead of sticking to one. It is set to be arranged in the backdrop of the Statue of Unity (SoU) on September 22.
A statement from the ministry reads, "In a major policy initiative, it has been decided by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to hold National Film Awards in various parts of the country taking beyond National Capital. The ceremony at Ekta Nagar this year will bring together cinematic talent from across India, embodying the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’."
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It will be the first time that Gujarat will host the ceremony at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, where President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards to 92 winners. The event will be held at the foot of the world’s tallest statue, the SoU, where, alongside the President and the winners, about 1000 other guests are expected to be present. An aluminium structural dome will be erected in the Bus Bay area for the 75-minute ceremony, which will honor the winners from Indian cinema for films released in 2024.
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In the past, Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi has been home to the ceremony every year. The upcoming event will mark a significant change in the planning and execution. As per the winners list announced by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in July, “Article 370” has won the Best Feature Film and Yami Gautam has been named Best Actress in a Leading Role. Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan will be sharing the Best Actor in a Leading Role honor.
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