National Film Awards 2025: Unexpected Winner Bags Top Honors, Surpassing Jawan and Animal's Anticipated Success.

Aug 01, 2025
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The 71st National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on August 1, 2025, celebrating the best of Indian cinema from 2023. While many anticipated top contenders like "Jawan" and "Animal" to sweep the awards, it was Vidhu Vinod Chopra's "12th Fail" that emerged as the Best Feature Film, marking a significant achievement.

"12th Fail" wasn't the only film to bag multiple awards. Here's a breakdown of the key winners across different categories:

Major Awards

Best Feature Film: "12th Fail" (Hindi)
Best Director: Sudipto Sen for "The Kerala Story" (Hindi)
Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan for "Jawan" (Hindi) and Vikrant Massey for "12th Fail" (Hindi)
Best Actress: Rani Mukerji for "Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway" (Hindi)
Best Supporting Actor: Vijayaraghavan for "Pookkaalam" (Malayalam) and Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar for "Parking" (Tamil)
Best Supporting Actress: Urvashi for "Ullozhukku" (Malayalam) and Janaki Bodiwala for "Vash" (Gujarati)
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" (Hindi)
Best Film Promoting National, Social Values: "Sam Bahadur"
Best Debut Film of a Director: Ashish Bende for "Aatmapamphlet" (Marathi)

Technical and Music Awards

Best Music Direction: G.V. Prakash Kumar (Songs) for "Vaathi," and Harshavardhan Rameshwar (BGM) for "Animal"
Best Male Playback Singer: P.V.N.S. Rohit for "Baby" (Telugu)
Best Female Playback Singer: Shilpa Rao for "Jawan" (Hindi)
Best Cinematography: Prasanthanu Mohapatra for "The Kerala Story" (Hindi)
Best Editing: Midhun Murali for "Pookkaalam" (Malayalam)

Regional Cinema

Regional cinema also shone brightly at the awards:

Best Malayalam Film: "Ullozhukku" by Christo Tomy
Several other regional films and artists were also recognized across different categories.

Other Notable Awards

Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics): "Hanu-Man" (Telugu)
Best Non-Feature Film: "The Flowering Man" (Hindi)
Best Direction (Non-Feature Film): Piyush Thakur

The 71st National Film Awards showcased the diversity and talent within the Indian film industry, with "12th Fail" leading the pack in feature film accolades. The awards recognised talent across acting, direction, technical aspects, and regional cinema, celebrating the cinematic achievements of 2023.

Written By

Aryan Singh

Aryan Singh is a burgeoning journalist with a fervent dedication to compelling storytelling and a strong ethical compass, complemented by a passion for sports. Recently graduated with a focus on multimedia journalism, Aryan is keen to delve into socio-political landscapes and cultural narratives beyond his immediate environment. He aims to produce well-researched, engaging content that fosters understanding and critical thinking among a global audience, always finding parallels with the strategic world of sports.