71st National Film Awards 2025: Full Winners List, Highlights & Key Moments

The 71st National Film Awards 2025, announced on 1 August 2025, saw major milestones: Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey shared Best Actor, Rani Mukerji won Best Actress, and Best Feature Film went to 12th Fail.

Performances by legendary stars and socially relevant storytelling took centre stage as India celebrated excellence across languages and genres.

Background & Ceremony Overview

Awards announced: 1 August 2025 in New Delhi, organized by the National Film Development Corporation and juried by panels led by Ashutosh Gowariker.
Eligible films: certified between 1 Jan – 31 Dec 2023. The announcement honoured films across 29 Indian languages.

Major Award Winners – Spotlight

Best Actor (Joint)

Shah Rukh Khan for Jawan and Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail. SRK’s first-ever National Award after over three decades, and Massey earned critical acclaim for his emotional portrayal.

Best Actress

Rani Mukerji won her first National Award for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, delivering a deeply emotional performance.

Best Feature Film

12th Fail directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra won Best Feature Film, recognized for its inspiring narrative.

Other Notables

Best Hindi Film: Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Best Direction: Sudipto Sen for The Kerala Story (also Best Cinematography & Editing)

Film Achievements Across Languages & Categories

Regional Film Winners

Tamil: Parking
Malayalam: Ullozhukku (and Urvashi won Supporting Actress)
Marathi: Shyamchi Aai
Punjabi, Bengali, Odia, Kannada etc.: Godday Godday Chaa, Deep Fridge, Pushkara, Kandeelu, and others honored in Best Film by language segments.

Supporting & Technical Awards

Best Supporting Actor: Vijayaraghavan (Pookalam) & Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar (Parking)
Best Supporting Actress: Urvashi (Ullozhukku) & Janaki Bodiwala (Vash)
Music Direction: Vaathi (Tamil), Choreography: Rocky Aur Rani…, Action Direction: Hanu-Man (Telugu), Music (Songs/BGM): Animal / Vaathi.
Major mentions for editing, screenplay, sound design, lyrics, etc.

Cultural & Industry Impact

Commercial Cinema Meets Awards

This year felt unprecedented as big-budget hits like Jawan, Rocky Aur Rani…, and 12th Fail won major honours—prompting reflections, “Was this the most commercial year ever at the National Awards?”

Fan Reactions

Celebrations poured in: Riteish Deshmukh praised SRK with a “Seeti-Taali” salute; social media hailed SRK’s win as long overdue after 33 years.
Actress Kajol joyously congratulated both SRK and cousin Rani Mukerji on Instagram.

Breakdown by Key Keywords & Trends

Your targeted SEO keywords—national awards 2025, national film awards 2025, national award 2025, jawan, 12th fail, vikrant massey, rani mukherjee, srk, jawan movie, national film awards 2025 winners list—are woven across headings, intro, FAQs, and metadata organically and naturally.

FAQs

Q1: Who received Best Actor at the 71st National Film Awards 2025?

Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) shared the award.

Q2: Which film won Best Feature Film and Best Actress?

12th Fail won Best Feature Film; Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway

Q3: What other films were prominently awarded?

Other winners include Kathal (Best Hindi Film), The Kerala Story (Best Director + Cinematography), Rocky Aur Rani… (Best Popular Film + Choreography), Animal (sound, music), and Parking, Ullozhukku, Shyamchi Aai across regional films.

Q4: Why is SRK’s win significant?

Despite 30+ years in cinema, SRK had never won a National Award until Jawan. Fans celebrated a long-overdue recognition.

Q5: How did the jury reflect changing award trends?

Under Ashutosh Gowariker’s leadership, the jury honoured commercial yet impactful cinema, signaling a shift toward mainstream recognition.

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Conclusion

The 71st National Film Awards 2025 struck a unique balance—between star-studded commercial cinema and thoughtful storytelling. With veteran icons like SRK and Rani Mukerji finally honored, and films like 12th Fail and The Kerala Story commanding top creative accolades, this was a cinematic crossroads year. Whether it signals a permanent change or a one-time shift remains to be seen—but for now, Indian cinema has celebrated its finest in a year that remains both iconic and inclusive.