Overview: A Historic Evening
On **August 1, 2025**, the winners of the **71st National Film Awards** were announced in New Delhi, honoring films certified between January and December 2023. The awards highlight excellence in acting, direction, regional storytelling, and technical craftsmanship. The jury report was submitted to Union I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MoS Dr. L. Murugan.0
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Top Acting Honours
For the first time in his 33-year career, **Shah Rukh Khan** received the **Best Actor National Award** for his performance in *Jawan*. The honour was shared with **Vikrant Massey**, awarded for his critically acclaimed role in *12th Fail*. **Rani Mukerji** earned **Best Actress** for her emotionally charged performance in *Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway*.1
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Best Feature Film & Notable Winners
The top prize of **Best Feature Film** went to *12th Fail*, recognized for its inspiring storytelling. *Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery* was named **Best Hindi Film**, while **Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani** received **Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment**. *Sam Bahadur* was awarded for promoting national and social values.2
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Regional Winners & Technical Excellence
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- **Best Telugu Film**: *Bhagavanth Kesari*
- **Best Tamil Film**: *Parking*
- **Best Malayalam**: *Ullozhukku*
- **Best Kannada Film**: *Kandeelu* (The Ray of Hope)
- **Best Marathi Film**: *Shyamchi Aai*
- **Best Assamese Film**: *Rongatapu 1982*
- **Best Bengali Film**: *Deep Fridge*
- **Best Punjabi Film**: *Godday Godday Chaa*
- **Best Odia Film**: *Pushkara*
- **Best Gujarati Film**: *Vash*
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In technical categories, *Animal* snagged awards for Best Sound Design, Makeup, and Music (background score), while *Pookalam* won Editing. *The Kerala Story* earned Best Director for Sudipto Sen and Best Cinematography. *HanuMan* won Best Action Direction and AVGC film, while *Balagam* took Best Lyrics.3
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Timeline of Key Milestones
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- 2023: Films produced eligible—including *Jawan*, *12th Fail*, etc.
- Aug 1, 2025: Winners announced in New Delhi.
- Post-announcement: Media coverage highlights first-time wins and powerful women-led films.
- Jury led by: Ashutosh Gowariker chaired the panel.4
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Trivia & Quiz Nuggets
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- SRK’s award for *Jawan* was his **first-ever National Film Award** after decades of iconic performances.5
- *12th Fail* both won Best Film and contributed to Vikrant Massey’s shared Best Actor win.
- Rani Mukerji’s win added to her illustrious career, marking another major honour alongside her multiple Filmfare victories.6
- Regional cinema thrived: winners spanned across **ten regional language categories**, including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Odia.
- Technically diverse films like *Animal* and *The Kerala Story* dominated behind-the-scenes awards.
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Source: In Mashable