The National Film Awards winners list covers all 72 editions from the 1st ceremony in 1954 to the 72nd edition in 2026. This database organizes every winner by year, category, and language across the Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Writing on Cinema sections.
This page serves as the master index for all National Film Awards editions. Each edition links to a dedicated page with the complete winners list for that year.
Table of Contents
What Does the National Film Awards Winners Database Cover?
This database covers all National Film Awards editions from the 1st in 1954 to the 72nd in 2026, organized by year, award category, and language of the winning film.
The National Film Awards cover 3 sections: Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Writing on Cinema. This winners list focuses on the Feature Film section, which carries the highest public interest and the widest range of categories.
The database is organized in 3 ways:
- By Year: The master edition index below lists every edition with key winners at a glance
- By Category: Each major category (Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress) has a dedicated deep-dive page
- By Language: The language-wise section identifies which film industries dominate specific categories
The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) administers these awards under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Before 2021, the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) handled this role.
Every film in this database held a valid CBFC certificate during its eligible calendar year. The jury consists of independent cinema experts appointed by the Ministry. No public voting or commercial sponsorship influences the results.
National Film Awards Winners by Year: Master Edition Index
The master edition index below lists all 72 National Film Award editions with the Best Feature Film, Best Actor, and Best Actress winners for quick reference. Click any edition number to see the complete winners list for that year.
Recent Editions (62nd to 72nd): 2015 to 2026
| Edition | Films From | Best Feature Film | Language | Best Actor | Best Actress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72nd | 2025 | To Be Announced | — | To Be Announced | To Be Announced |
| 71st | 2023 | 12th Fail | Hindi | Rishab Shetty | Nithya Menen |
| 70th | 2022 | Aattam | Malayalam | Allu Arjun | Nithya Menen |
| 69th | 2021 | Rocketry: The Nambi Effect | Hindi | Allu Arjun | Alia Bhatt |
| 68th | 2020 | Soorarai Pottru | Tamil | Suriya | Apurna Sharma |
| 67th | 2019 | Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham | Malayalam | Manoj Bajpayee, Dhanush | Kangana Ranaut |
| 66th | 2018 | Hellaro | Gujarati | Ayushmann Khurrana, Vicky Kaushal | Keerthy Suresh |
| 65th | 2017 | Village Rockstars | Assamese | Riddhi Sen | Sridevi |
| 64th | 2016 | Ventilator | Marathi | Akshay Kumar | Surabhi |
| 63rd | 2015 | Baahubali: The Beginning | Telugu | Amitabh Bachchan | Kangana Ranaut |
| 62nd | 2014 | Court | Marathi | Vijay | Kangana Ranaut |
Mid-Period Editions (52nd to 61st): 2004 to 2014
| Edition | Films From | Best Feature Film | Language | Best Actor | Best Actress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61st | 2013 | Ship of Theseus | Hindi | Rajkummar Rao | Vidhya Balan |
| 60th | 2012 | Paan Singh Tomar | Hindi | Irrfan Khan | Usha Jadhav |
| 59th | 2011 | Deool | Marathi | Girish Kulkarni | Vidya Balan |
| 58th | 2010 | Adaminte Makan Abu | Malayalam | Dhanush | Kalpana |
| 57th | 2009 | Harishchandrachi Factory | Marathi | Amitabh Bachchan | Deepika Padukone |
| 56th | 2008 | Delhi-6 | Hindi | Shah Rukh Khan | Priyamani |
| 55th | 2007 | Eklavya: The Royal Guard | Hindi | Mithun Chakraborty | Konkona Sen Sharma |
| 54th | 2006 | Pulijanma | Kannada | Upendra | Shreya Saran |
| 53rd | 2005 | Rang De Basanti | Hindi | Amitabh Bachchan | Rani Mukherjee |
| 52nd | 2004 | Page 3 | Hindi | Saif Ali Khan | Shabana Azmi |
Early Editions (1st to 51st): 1954 to 2003
The early editions of the National Film Awards established the tradition of recognizing cinema in every Indian language. Each edition below links to a dedicated page with the complete winners list.
| Decade | Editions | Notable Best Feature Film Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1st to 6th | Pather Panchali (Bengali, 1955), Kabuliwala (Bengali, 1957) |
| 1960s | 7th to 17th | Meghe Dhaka Tara (Bengali, 1961), Bandini (Hindi, 1964), Charulata (Bengali, 1965) |
| 1970s | 18th to 28th | Swayamvaram (Malayalam, 1973), Nirmalyam (Malayalam, 1974), Ankur (Hindi, 1975) |
| 1980s | 29th to 38th | Aakrosh (Hindi, 1981), Elippathayam (Malayalam, 1982), Ardh Satya (Hindi, 1984) |
| 1990s | 39th to 48th | Agantuk (Bengali, 1992), Thevar Magan (Tamil, 1993), Bandit Queen (Hindi, 1995) |
| 2000s | 49th to 51st | Devdas (Hindi, 2003), Chandni Bar (Hindi, 2002), Lagaan (Hindi, 2002) |
Browse the complete National Film Award history from 1954 to present for a detailed timeline of all editions.
Who Won Best Feature Film at National Film Awards Each Year?
The Best Feature Film National Award goes to the single best film in Indian cinema for that year, regardless of language, and is presented with the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) trophy.
The jury evaluates films from all Indian languages on equal terms. The Best Feature Film winner represents the highest cinematic achievement across all Indian film industries for that year.
The last 15 Best Feature Film winners are:
| Year | Best Feature Film | Language | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12th Fail | Hindi | Vidhu Vinod Chopra |
| 2022 | Aattam | Malayalam | Anand Ekarshi |
| 2021 | Rocketry: The Nambi Effect | Hindi/Tamil | R. Madhavan |
| 2020 | Soorarai Pottru | Tamil | Sudha Kongara |
| 2019 | Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham | Malayalam | Priyadarshan |
| 2018 | Hellaro | Gujarati | Abhishek Shah |
| 2017 | Village Rockstars | Assamese | Rima Das |
| 2016 | Ventilator | Marathi | Rajesh Mapuskar |
| 2015 | Baahubali: The Beginning | Telugu | S. S. Rajamouli |
| 2014 | Court | Marathi | Chaitanya Tamhane |
| 2013 | Ship of Theseus | Hindi | Anand Gandhi |
| 2012 | Paan Singh Tomar | Hindi | Tigmanshu Dhulia |
| 2011 | Deool | Marathi | Umesh Kulkarni |
| 2010 | Adaminte Makan Abu | Malayalam | Salim Ahamed |
| 2009 | Harishchandrachi Factory | Marathi | Paresh Mokashi |
See the complete Best Feature Film National Award winners list from 1954 to 2026 for all 72 editions.
Which Language Has Won the Most Best Feature Film Awards?
Bengali films won the most Best Feature Film National Awards in the history of the ceremony, followed by Malayalam, Hindi, and Marathi films in the overall count.
The language-wise distribution of Best Feature Film wins reflects the diversity of Indian cinema:
| Language | Approximate Wins | Notable Films |
|---|---|---|
| Bengali | Most wins overall | Pather Panchali, Charulata, Meghe Dhaka Tara, Agantuk |
| Malayalam | 2nd highest | Swayamvaram, Nirmalyam, Adaminte Makan Abu, Aattam |
| Hindi | 3rd highest | Ankur, Ardh Satya, 12th Fail, Rocketry |
| Marathi | Significant wins | Harishchandrachi Factory, Deool, Ventilator, Court |
| Tamil | Notable wins | Soorarai Pottru, Thevar Magan, Kannathil Muthamittal |
| Telugu | Notable wins | Baahubali: The Beginning |
| Assamese | 1 win | Village Rockstars |
| Gujarati | 1 win | Hellaro |
This distribution proves that the National Film Awards evaluate films from all Indian language cinemas on equal terms. No single language dominates permanently.
Who Are the Best Actor National Award Winners?
The Best Actor National Award goes to the actor who delivers the most outstanding performance in an Indian feature film for that year, recognized with the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) trophy.
The last 15 Best Actor National Award winners are:
| Year | Best Actor | Film | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rishab Shetty | Kantara | Kannada |
| 2022 | Allu Arjun | Pushpa: The Rise | Telugu |
| 2021 | Allu Arjun | Pushpa: The Rise | Telugu |
| 2020 | Suriya | Soorarai Pottru | Tamil |
| 2019 | Manoj Bajpayee, Dhanush | Bhonsle, Asuran | Hindi, Tamil |
| 2018 | Ayushmann Khurrana, Vicky Kaushal | AndhaDhun, Uri | Hindi |
| 2017 | Riddhi Sen | Nagarkirtan | Bengali |
| 2016 | Akshay Kumar | Rustom | Hindi |
| 2015 | Amitabh Bachchan | Piku | Hindi |
| 2014 | Vijay | Mersal | Tamil |
| 2013 | Rajkummar Rao | Shahid | Hindi |
| 2012 | Irrfan Khan | Paan Singh Tomar | Hindi |
| 2011 | Girish Kulkarni | Deool | Marathi |
| 2010 | Dhanush | Aadukalam | Tamil |
| 2009 | Amitabh Bachchan | Paa | Hindi |
See the complete Best Actor National Award winners list from 1954 to 2026 for the full history.
Which Actors Won the Most National Film Awards for Best Actor?
Amitabh Bachchan holds the record for the most Best Actor National Awards with 4 wins, followed by Kamal Haasan and Mammootty with 3 wins each.
| Actor | Total Best Actor Wins | Films and Years |
|---|---|---|
| Amitabh Bachchan | 4 wins | Agneepath (1990), Black (2005), Paa (2009), Piku (2015) |
| Kamal Haasan | 3 wins | Moondram Pirai (1982), Nayakan (1987), Indian (1996) |
| Mammootty | 3 wins | Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha and Mathilukal (1989), Vidheyan and Ponthan Mada (1993), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (1998) |
| Mohanlal | 2 wins | Bharatham (1991), Vanaprastham (1999) |
| Naseeruddin Shah | 2 wins | Sparsh (1980), Mirch Masala (1987) |
Who Are the Best Actress National Award Winners?
The Best Actress National Award recognizes the actress who delivers the most outstanding lead performance in an Indian feature film for that year, presented with the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus).
The last 15 Best Actress National Award winners are:
| Year | Best Actress | Film | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nithya Menen | Thiruchitrambalam | Tamil |
| 2022 | Nithya Menen | 19(1)(a) | Malayalam |
| 2021 | Alia Bhatt | Gangubai Kathiawadi | Hindi |
| 2020 | Apurna Sharma | Hathi Mere Saathi | Hindi |
| 2019 | Kangana Ranaut | Manikarnika / Panga | Hindi |
| 2018 | Keerthy Suresh | Mahanati | Telugu |
| 2017 | Sridevi | Mom | Hindi |
| 2016 | Surabhi | Cycle | Telugu |
| 2015 | Kangana Ranaut | Tanu Weds Manu Returns | Hindi |
| 2014 | Kangana Ranaut | Queen | Hindi |
| 2013 | Usha Jadhav | Dhag | Marathi |
| 2012 | Vidya Balan | Kahaani | Hindi |
| 2011 | Kalpana | Adaminte Makan Abu | Malayalam |
| 2010 | Deepika Padukone | Karthik Calling Karthik | Hindi |
| 2009 | Rani Mukherjee | No One Killed Jessica | Hindi |
See the complete Best Actress National Award winners list from 1954 to 2026 for the full history.
Which Actresses Won the Most National Film Awards for Best Actress?
Shabana Azmi holds the record for the most Best Actress National Awards with 5 wins, followed by Kangana Ranaut with 4 wins.
| Actress | Total Best Actress Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Shabana Azmi | 5 wins | 1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987 |
| Kangana Ranaut | 4 wins | 2014, 2015, 2019, 2019 |
| Nithya Menen | 2 wins | 2022, 2023 |
| Smita Patil | 2 wins | 1974, 1984 |
| Vidya Balan | 2 wins | 2011, 2012 |
National Film Awards Winners by Language
The National Film Awards recognize films across every Indian language recognized by the government, treating all language cinemas on equal terms in every category.
This section organizes notable winners by the language of the film.
Hindi Film Winners at National Film Awards
Hindi cinema has produced multiple Best Feature Film winners across the 72 editions. Some of the most significant Hindi film winners are:
- Ankur (1975) — Shyam Benegal’s debut, marking new wave Hindi cinema
- Ardh Satya (1983) — Om Puri’s landmark performance
- Bandit Queen (1995) — Shekhar Kapur’s biographical film
- Lagaan (2002) — Ashutosh Gowariker’s epic, also India’s Oscar entry
- 12th Fail (2023) — Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s inspirational drama
Hindi films dominate the Best Actor category due to the volume of Hindi productions submitted each year. However, the jury consistently recognizes performances across all languages. The Best Hindi Film National Award page lists every Hindi language winner.
South Indian Film Winners at National Film Awards
South Indian cinema from Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada film industries has produced some of the most celebrated Best Feature Film winners.
Malayalam cinema holds particular distinction in the National Film Awards. Films from Mollywood have won the Best Feature Film award multiple times, including Swayamvaram (1973), Nirmalyam (1974), Adaminte Makan Abu (2010), and Aattam (2022). The Best Malayalam Film National Award page lists every winner.
Tamil cinema produced Soorarai Pottru (2020) as a Best Feature Film winner. Tamil actors Kamal Haasan and Dhanush are among the most-awarded Best Actor recipients. The Best Tamil Film National Award page covers every winner.
Telugu cinema gave Indian cinema Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) as a Best Feature Film winner, with Allu Arjun winning Best Actor for Pushpa: The Rise in consecutive years. The Best Telugu Film National Award page covers the full history.
Kannada cinema produced the Rajat Kamal winner Hellaro (Gujarati, but directed by Abhishek Shah) and had Rishab Shetty win Best Actor for Kantara in 2023.
Notable Records in National Film Awards History
The National Film Awards database contains several landmark records that reflect 7 decades of Indian cinema excellence:
Most Best Actor Wins: Amitabh Bachchan holds the record with 4 Best Actor wins across 25 years (1990 to 2015). He is the only actor to win this award in 4 separate decades.
Most Best Actress Wins: Shabana Azmi holds the record with 5 Best Actress wins, with her first win in 1974 and last in 1987. This remains the highest count for any actress in National Film Awards history.
Back-to-Back Best Actor: Allu Arjun won the Best Actor award for Pushpa: The Rise in 2 consecutive editions (69th and 70th). This is a rare achievement in NFA history.
Most Best Actress Wins in Recent Era: Kangana Ranaut won the Best Actress award 4 times, including twice in the same year (2019) for Manikarnika and Panga.
Longest Gap Between Wins: Several actors and directors have won the National Film Award with gaps of more than 10 years between their wins, reflecting the competitive and merit-based nature of the selection process.
First National Film Award: The 1st National Film Awards (for films from 1953) gave the first Best Feature Film award to a Bengali film, establishing the non-Hindi language dominance that continued through the 1950s and 1960s.
Youngest Best Actor Winner: The National Film Awards have recognized exceptionally young performers across different eras. The National Film Awards records page covers the complete list of youngest winners.
Most Categories Won by a Single Film: Some films have won across multiple categories in the same edition. Lagaan (2001) remains one of the most awarded films across technical and creative categories in a single edition.
See the complete breakdown of all records in the National Film Awards records and statistics page.
Frequently Asked Questions About National Film Awards Winners
How Many Films Have Won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film?
72 films have won the Best Feature Film National Award, one for each edition of the ceremony from 1954 to 2025. Each edition gives exactly one Swarna Kamal for Best Feature Film. In rare cases, the jury may not award this category, but this has happened very few times in NFA history.
Can the Same Film Win Multiple National Film Awards?
Yes. A single film can win multiple National Film Awards in the same edition across different categories. A Best Feature Film winner can also win Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and other technical categories in the same year. Films like Lagaan and Pather Panchali won multiple awards in their respective editions.
Has Any Actor Won National Awards in Two Different Languages?
Yes. Mammootty won the Best Actor National Award for films in both Malayalam and English across his 3 wins. Kamal Haasan won for Tamil and other language films. The jury evaluates performance quality across all languages, so actors working in multiple language industries can win for any of them.
What Was the First Film to Win a National Film Award?
The first Best Feature Film National Award went to Pather Panchali (Bengali, 1955) for films from 1954, directed by Satyajit Ray. This remains one of the most celebrated wins in the history of the ceremony. Ray’s film is listed among the greatest films ever made in world cinema. Before the consolidated Best Feature Film category, the 1st edition gave awards under different category names.
Where Can I Find the Complete Winners List for a Specific Edition?
Each edition of the National Film Awards has its own dedicated page on this website. Find any edition in the master index above and click the edition number. For example, the 71st National Film Awards winners page covers every category winner for films from 2023. Every dedicated edition page includes the full winners list across Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Writing on Cinema sections.
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- Explore the history of National Film Awards from 1954 to present day
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- Browse the complete list of all Indian film award ceremonies
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