The 71st National Film Awards honoured the finest of Indian cinema for films released in 2023 in a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, where President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards. Mohanlal was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award; major acting honours went to Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey (Best Actor) and Rani Mukerji (Best Actress). 12th Fail won Best Feature Film. Full winners list below.
Major Honours
| Category | Winner(s) | Film(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award (Lifetime Achievement) | Mohanlal | — |
| Best Feature Film (Golden Lotus) | 12th Fail | Vinod Chopra Films; directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Shah Rukh Khan / Vikrant Massey | Jawan / 12th Fail (Shared) |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Rani Mukerji | Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway |
| Best Direction | Sudipto Sen | The Kerala Story |
Other Key Awards & Honourees
- Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
- Best Debut Film of a Director: Aatmapamphlet — Ashish Avinash Bende
- Best Children’s Film: Naal 2
- Best Film in AVGC / Visual Effects: Hanu-Man
- Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social & Environmental Values: Sam Bahadur
Technical, Music & Supporting Categories
| Category | Winner(s) / Film(s) |
|---|---|
| Best Music Direction (Songs) | Vaathi — G. V. Prakash Kumar |
| Best Music Direction (Background Score) | Animal — Harshavardhan Rameshwar |
| Best Male Playback Singer | P.V.N.S. Rohit — Baby (Telugu) |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Shilpa Rao — “Chaleya” (Jawan) |
| Best Lyrics | Balagam — “Ooru Palletooru,” Kasarla Shyam |
| Best Cinematography | The Kerala Story — Prasantanu Mohapatra |
| Best Sound Design | Animal — Sachin Sudhakaran & Hariharan Muralidharan |
| Best Stunt / Action Direction | Hanu-Man (Telugu) — Nandu & Prudhvi |
| Best Choreography | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani — “Dhindhora Baje Re!” — Vaibhavi Merchant |
Regional Film Awards
These went to regional films across India under the Schedule VIII language categories and others:
| Language / Category | Film | Producer / Director |
|---|---|---|
| Assamese | Rongatapu 1982 | Adityam Saikia |
| Bengali | Deep Fridge | Arjunn Dutta |
| Gujarati | Vash | Krishnadev Yagnik |
| Hindi | Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery | Yashowardhan Mishra |
| Kannada | Kandeelu: The Ray Of Hope | Yeshoda Prakash Kottukathira |
| Malayalam | Ullozhukku | Christo Tomy |
| Marathi | Shyamchi Aai | Sujay Dahake |
| Odia | Pushkara | Subhransu Das |
| Punjabi | Godday Godday Chaa | Vijay Kumar Arora |
| Tamil | Parking | Ramkumar Balakrishnan |
| Telugu | Bhagavanth Kesari | Anil Ravipudi |
Ceremony & Context
- The winners were announced on August 1, 2025.
- The awards ceremony, with formal presentation of awards by the President, took place on 23 September 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
- The eligibility period was films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023.
What Makes This Year Historic
- This marks Shah Rukh Khan’s first ever National Film Award win, after more than three decades in the film industry.
- Shared Best Actor award between Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) emphasises both commercial and content-driven cinema being recognized.
- 12th Fail not only gave Vikrant Massey Best Actor; it also won Best Feature Film, making it a standout in this edition.
- Mohanlal’s Dadasaheb Phalke Award continues his legacy as one of the most honoured actors in Indian cinema.
Final Thoughts
The 71st National Film Awards exemplified India’s cinematic diversity: from regional films to blockbuster hits; from technical achievements to meaningful storytelling. With strong performances, compelling narratives and industry veterans being honoured (especially Mohanlal, SRK, Rani Mukerji), this edition reinforces the National Awards’ role in validating both artistry and popular appeal.
