71st National Film Award Winners

Aug 2025|đź”´Needs Update|4 min read|47 entries

Key Takeaway

The 71st National Film Awards were announced on August 1, 2025, honoring the best of Indian cinema for the year 2023.

Last verified: 12 Feb 2026·Source: www.pscarivukal.com·Next review: Aug 2026

71st National Film Award Winners(47)

Let's dive into some of the major highlights and celebrated winners of the 71st National Film Awards:Best Feature Film
12th Fail(Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra)
Best Actor
Shah Rukh Khan(Jawan)Vikrant Massey(12th Fail)Best Actress–Rani Mukerji(Mrs Chatterjee Vs. Norway)Best Supporting Actor –Vijayaraghavan(Pookkalam)Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar(Parking)Best Supporting Actress–Urvashi(Ullozhukku)Janaki Bodiwala(Vash)Best Director –Sudipto Sen(The Kerala Story)
Best Debut Film of a Director
Aatmapamphlet(Ashish Avinash Bende, Marathi)
Best Popular Film
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Best Children’s Film
Naal 2(Marathi)
Best Child Artist
Kabir Khandare(Gypsy)Sukriti Veni Bandreddi(Gandhi Tatha Chettu)Treesha Thosar, Shrinivas Pokale & Bhargav Jagtap(Naal 2)Best Film in AVGC –Hanu-Man(Telugu)
Best Film promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values
Sam Bahadur(Director: Meghna Gulzar)
National Award forNon-Feature FilmBest Non-Feature Film
Flowering Man
Best Documentary
God Vulture and Human
Best Short Fiction Film
Giddh (The Scavenger)
Best Biographical / Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film
Mo Bou, Mo Gaan(Odia),Lentina Ao - A Light on the Eastern Horizon(English)
Best Arts and Culture Film
Timeless Tamil Nadu
Best Animation Film
A Coconut Tree
Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social And Environmental Values
The Silent Epidemic
Best Direction
Piyush Thakur(The First Film)
Best Debut Non-Feature Film of a Director
Shilpika Bordoloi(Mau: The Spirit Dreams of Cheraw)
Best Narration Voiceover
Harikrishnan S(The Sacred – Jack Exploring the Tree of Wishes)
Best Cinematography
Saravanamaruthu Soundarapandi &Meenakshi Soman(Little Wings)
Special Mention
M. K. Ramadas(Nekal – Chronicle of The Paddy Man),Himansu Sekhar Khatua(The Sea & Seven Villages)
National Award forMusicBest Male Playback Singer
P.V.N.S. Rohit(Baby)
Best Female Playback Singer
Shilpa Rao(Jawan)
Best Lyrics
Kasarla Shyam(Balagam)
Best Music Director (Songs)
G.V. Prakash Kumar(Vaathi)
Best Music Direction (Background Music)
Harshavardhan Rameshwar(Animal)
Best Music Direction (Songs, Non-feature film)
Pranil Desai(The First Film)Best Sound Design –Sachin Sudhakaran, Hariharan(Animal)
National Award forScreenplayBest Screenplay (Original)
Sai Rajesh Neelam(Baby),Ramkumar Balakrishnan(Parking)
Best Screenplay (Dialogue Writer)
Deepak Kingrani(Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai)
Best Script (Non-feature film)
Chidananda S. Naik(Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know...)
National Award forProductionBest Costume Design
Sachin, Divya, Nidhhi(Sam Bahadur)
Best Make-Up artist
Shrikanth Desai(Sam Bahadur)
Best Production Design
Mohandas(2018 - Everyone is a Hero)
Best Choreography
Vaibhavi Merchant(Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaan)Best Cinematography –Prasanthanu Mohapatra(The Kerala Story)
Best Editing
Midhun Murali(Pookkaalam)
Best Editing (Non-feature film)
Niladri Roy(Moving Focus)
Best Action Direction
Nandu and Prudhvi(Hanu-Man)
National Award forRegional FilmsBest Malayalam Film
Ullozhukku
Best Hindi Film
Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery
Best Tamil Film
Parking
Best Kannada Film
Kandeelu: The Ray of Hope
Best Telugu Film
Bhagavanth Kesari
Best Marathi Film
Shyamchi Aai
Best Odia Film
Pushkara
Best Assamese Film
Rongatapu 1982
Best Bengali Film
Deep Fridge
Best Gujarati Film
Vash
Special Jury AwardSpecial Mention
M.R. Radhakrishnan(Re-recording mixer, Animal)
Best Film Critic
Utpal Datta