71st National Film Awards 2025: Complete Winners List: 71st National Film Awards for the year 2023 were announced on August 1st, 2025, by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This year’s awards celebrated a diverse range of films, recognizing both commercial successes and socially relevant narratives. The ceremony highlighted the best in Indian cinema, showcasing exceptional talent and storytelling.
Best Feature Film
prestigious Best Feature Film award went to “12th Fail,” a film that has garnered significant critical acclaim and audience appreciation. The movie, which is based on the life of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, received praise for its inspiring storyline and powerful performances.
Best Actor
This year saw a tie for Best Actor! Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan won his first National Film Award for his role in “Jawan,” portraying a vigilant citizen fighting against a corrupt system. He shared the honor with Vikrant Massey, whose compelling performance as the honest and struggling IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma in “12th Fail” also earned him the coveted award. This is a significant achievement for both actors.
Best Actress
Rani Mukerji was named Best Actress for her deeply emotional and impactful performance in “Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway.” Her portrayal of an Indian mother battling the Norwegian government for custody of her children resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike.
Other Notable Awards
- Best Director: Sudipto Sen for “The Kerala Story”
- Best Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani”
- Best Film on National Integration: “Sam Bahadur”
Complete List of Feature Film Awards
Here’s a detailed table summarizing the key awards in the feature film category:
| Category | Film Name | Winner(s) | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film | 12th Fail | Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra; Producer: VC Films LLP | Hindi |
| Best Debut Director | Aatmapamphlet | Director: Ashish Bhende | Marathi |
| Best Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani | Director: Karan Johar; Producer: Dharma Productions | Hindi |
| Best Film on National Integration | Sam Bahadur | Director: Meghna Gulzar; Producer: Unilazer Ventures | Hindi |
| Best Children’s Film | Naal 2 | Director: Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti | Marathi |
| Best Animation/VFX/Gaming Film (AVGC) | Hanu-Man | Director: Prashant Varma; VFX/Animator: Jetti Venkat Kumar | Telugu |
| Best Direction | The Kerala Story | Director: Sudipto Sen | Hindi |
| Best Actor (Joint) | Jawan, 12th Fail | Shahrukh Khan, Vikrant Massey | Hindi |
| Best Actress | Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway | Rani Mukerji | Hindi |
| Best Supporting Actor (Joint) | Pukkaalum, Parking | Vijay Raghavan, M.S. Bhaskar | Malayalam, Tamil |
| Best Supporting Actress (Joint) | Ullorazhukku, Vash | Urvashi, Janki Bodiwala | Malayalam, Gujarati |
| Best Child Artist (Joint) | Gandhi, Chettu, Gypsy, Naal 2 | Sukriti Venne Bendre, Kabir Khandare, Trisha Thosar, Shrinivas Pokale, Bhargav Jagtap | Telugu, Marathi |
| Best Playback Singer (Male) | Baby (Premisthunna song) | P.V.N.S. Rohit | Telugu |
| Best Playback Singer (Female) | Jawan (Chaliya song) | Shilpa Rao | Hindi |
| Best Cinematography | The Kerala Story | Prashantu Mahapatra | Hindi |
| Best Screenplay (Joint) | Baby, Parking, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai | Sai Rajesh Neelam, Ramakumar Balakrishnan, Deepak Kingrani (Dialogue) | Telugu, Tamil, Hindi |
| Best Sound Design | Animal | Sachin Sudhakaran, Hariharan Muralidharan | Hindi |
| Best Editing | Pukkaalum | Midhun Murali | Malayalam |
| Best Production Design | 2018 – Everyone Is a Hero | Mohandas | Malayalam |
| Best Costume Design | Sam Bahadur | Sachin Lovalekar, Divya & Nidhi Gambhir | Hindi |
| Best Make-up | Sam Bahadur | Shrikant Desai | Hindi |
| Best Lyrics | Balagam (Ooru Palleturu song) | Kasarla Shyam | Telugu |
| Best Choreography | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani (Dhindhora Baje Re) | Vaibhavi Merchant | Hindi |
| Best Action Direction | Hanu-Man | Nandu Prithvi | Telugu |
film “Animal” also received three technical awards: Background Score (Harshvardhan Rameshwar), Sound Designing (Sachin Sudhakaran and Hariharan Muralidharan), and Special Mention in Recording (M.R. Rajakrishnan).
FAQ
What film won the Best Feature Film award?
Best Feature Film award was won by “12th Fail.”
Who won the Best Actor award?
Shahrukh Khan and Vikrant Massey jointly won the Best Actor award.
Who won the Best Actress award?
Rani Mukerji won the Best Actress award for her role in “Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway.”
Which film won the award for Best Direction?
Sudipto Sen won the Best Director award for “The Kerala Story”.
How many awards did “Animal” win?
“Animal” won three technical awards: Best Background Score, Best Sound Designing, and a Special Mention in Recording.