Bhagavantha Kesari Is The Best Telugu Film And SRK Is Best Actor In 71 National Awards

The 71st National Film Awards 2025 winners were announced on August 1 in New Delhi. The awards ceremony recognizes and honors outstanding achievements in Indian cinema, including technical skills, performances, and direction. The winners were announced by the jury, and films that received certification from the CBFC between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, were eligible for these awards.

The winners of the 71st National Film Awards include Bhagavanth Kesari, which won the Best Telugu Film award. The film, directed by Anil Ravipudi and starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, was praised for its gripping and sensitive story, as well as its powerful emotional narrative. Other notable winners include Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey, who won the Best Actor awards for their performances in Jawan and 12th Fail, respectively. Rani Mukerji won the Best Actress award for her role in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway.

The full list of winners includes HanuMan, which won two awards, and Animal, which won three awards. Director Sukumar daughter Sukrithi Bandreddi won as Best Child actor award for Gandhi Tatha Chettu. Other notable winners include Parking, which won the Best Tamil Film award, and The Kerala Story, which won awards for Best Cinematography and Best Direction. The awards ceremony recognized outstanding contributions to Indian cinema, including films, actors, and technicians from across the country.

The 71st National Film Awards 2025 winners list is a testament to the excellence and diversity of Indian cinema. The awards ceremony recognizes and honors outstanding achievements in filmmaking, and the winners are a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the film industry. With its rich tradition of storytelling and filmmaking, Indian cinema continues to thrive and entertain audiences around the world.

Here's the full list

Special mentions: MR Rajakrishnan (Animal - Re-Recording)

Best Tai Phake Film: Pai Tang…Step of Hope

Best Garo Film: Rimdottianga

Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari

Best Tamil Film: Parking

Best Punjabi Film: Godday Godday Chaa

Best Odia Film: Pushkara

Best Marathi Film: Shyamchi Aai

Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku

Best Kannada Film: Kandeelu

Best Hindi Film: Kathal

Best Gujarati Film: Vash

Best Bengali Film: Deep Fridge

Best Assamese Film: Rongatapu 1982

Best Action Direction: Nandu-Prudhvi (HanuMan)

Best Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant (Dindhora Baje Re - Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani)

Best Lyrics: Kasarla Shyam (Ooru Palleturu - Balagam)

Best Music Direction: GV Prakash Kumar (Vaathi), Harshavardhan Rameshwar (Animal)

Best Makeup: Shrikanth Desai (Sam Bahadur)

Best Costume Design: Sachin, Divya, Nidhhi (Sam Bahadur)

Best Production Design: Mohandas (2018)

Best Editing: Midhun Murali (Pookkaalam)

Best Sound Design: Sachin Sudhakaran, Hariharan (Animal)

Best Screenplay: Sai Rajesh (Baby), Ramkumar Balakrishnan (Parking)

Best Dialogue: Deepak Kingrani (Sirf Ek Bandha Kaafi Hai)

Best Cinematography: Prasanthanu Mohapatra (The Kerala Story)

Best Playback Singer: Shilpa Rao (Chaliya - Jawan), Rohit (Premisthunna - Baby)

Best Child Artist: Sukriti Bandireddi (Gandhi Thatha Chettu), Kabir Khandare (Gypsy), Treesha Toshar, Shrinivas Pokale, Bhargav (Naal 2)

Best Actor in Supporting Role: Urvashi (Ullozhukku), Janki Bodiwala (Vash), Vijayaraghavan (Pookalam), Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar (Parking)

Best Actor in Leading Role: Rani Mukerji (Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway), Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan), Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)

Best Direction: Sudipto Sen (The Kerala Story)

Best Film in AVGC: HanuMan

Best Children’s Film: Naal 2

Best Film Promoting National, Social Values: Sam Bahadur

Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

Best Debut Film: Aatmapamphlet

Best Film: 12th Fail

Non-feature films:

Special mentions: Nekal – Chronicle of the Paddy Man, The Sea and the Seven Villages

Best Script: Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know

Best Voiceover: Hari Krishnan S (The Sacred Jack – Exploring The Tree of Wishes)

Best Music Direction: Pranil Desai (The First Film)

Best Editing: Niladri Roy (Moving Focus)

Best Sound Design: Shubarun Sengupta (Dhundhgiri Ke Phool)

Best Cinematography: Meenakshi Soman, Saravanamaruthu (Little Wings)

Best Direction: Piyush Thakur (The First Film)

Best Short Film: Giddh The Scavenger

Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Values: The Silent Epidemic

Best Documentary Film: God Vulture and Human

Best Art/Culture Film: Timeless Tamil Nadu

Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction Film: Mo Bou Mo Gaan, Lentina Ao

Best Debut Film: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw

Best Non-Fiction Film: Flowering Man