72nd National Film Awards Organised at Ekta Nagar for the First Time

Today, Ekta Nagar isn’t just about the statue any more. For the first time, in its history the National Film Awards are being held outside Delhi, and the place picked for this move is right here at Kevadia, next to the Statue of Unity. If you’re keeping track of what’s happening in and around the destination, or you’re planning a visit soon, here’s what’s actually confirmed about the event, and why it matters for the region, in a more subtle sort of way.

72nd National Film Awards 2026 at a Glance

Why Are the National Film Awards Being Held at Ekta Nagar?

For as long as most people can remember, the National Film Awards were kind of a Delhi affair. This year, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting broke that pattern, choosing to hold the ceremony at Ekta Nagar instead . The idea, as the ministry has explained it, is to stop treating the capital like the only stage for a national celebration of cinema and start rotating the event across different states, in the years ahead.

Gujarat, and specifically the Statue of Unity complex, fits the whole thinking pretty well. The site already represents the theme of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat," or "One India, Best India," which matches up, cleanly, with a film awards ceremony meant to recognize work from across India’s many languages and regions.

72nd National Film Awards Winners and Major Honours

The winners for this edition were, actually announced back on 18 July 2026, well ahead of today's ceremony, which is where the awards are formally conferred. Article 370 has been named Best Feature Film, and its lead , Yami Gautam, has won Best Actress for the same movie. The Best Actor honour is split this year between Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion, while Rajkumar Periasamy has been recognised for Best Direction for Amaran, kind of as a focused nod.

Kalki 2898 AD has picked up the Best Popular Feature Film award and this edition also brings a first in the Non-Feature Film category, with a Santhali-language film receiving recognition for the first time in the awards history. The jury panels behind these calls were chaired by Jayaraj for feature films, Aseem Sinha for non-feature films, and A. Chandrasekhar for writing in cinema.

Anant Nag to Receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award

So, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema, has gone to veteran actor Anant Nag this year. The announcement was made on 16 September 2026, a few days just before the ceremony, not too much time to get ready. Anant Nag has been around in Indian cinema since the early 1970s, and he’s shown up in more than 300 films across six languages; many viewers still spot him immediately from the television series Malgudi Days. He also got the Padma Bhushan in 2025, and today’s award, well that adds another big recognition to a journey that spans over five decades, more or less.

Why Ekta Nagar Is Important for the Statue of Unity Region

Hosting an event of this kind, it kinda says a lot about how far Ekta Nagar has actually gone as a place. It started, if you look at it closely, as just a single record-breaking statue and then slowly but steadily it turned into something more. Like, it’s become a spot that can manage national-level events too, pulling in attention well beyond the usual tourist circuit, you know.

Stuff like this generally pushes a destination onto a lot more people’s radar, and Kevadia has been working on that image for a few years now. Between the statue, the nearby gardens , and the little activities around there, and now even those national ceremonies of this scale.

For visitors, it also means the region keeps finding new reasons to be relevant, whether you're coming for the statue, a national event, or simply to see a part of Gujarat that's changed a lot in a short time.

Things to Explore Near Statue of Unity

If you're in Ekta Nagar around this time, or planning a trip soon, there's plenty beyond the film awards to fill your visit. The Statue of Unity itself remains the main draw, and the Viewing Gallery inside the statue gives you a wide view of the Narmada River and the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The Valley of Flowers is a quieter stop for anyone who wants a slower walk through greenery, while the Jungle Safari appeals to families looking for something a bit more active.

The dam itself is worth a look even from the outside, and Ekta Mall is a convenient stop for food and local handicrafts. For a fuller list of what's around, our guide on things to do near Statue of Unity covers the area in more detail, and if you're looking to cover the essentials without long queues, the Statue of Unity Express Entry with Viewing Gallery is worth checking out.

Is the National Film Awards Ceremony Open to Tourists?

Right now, there's no official confirmation that the ceremony is open for general public or tourist entry. Events of this scale typically involve invited guests, government officials, and members of the film industry rather than open public attendance. If you're visiting Ekta Nagar today, it's best to treat the film awards as a national event taking place in the region rather than something you can walk into. For anything related to entry or access, it's worth relying only on official government announcements rather than assumptions.

If you're staying nearby, this could still be a good time to explore the Statue of Unity and its surrounding attractions, since hotels near Statue of Unity tend to see more interest during high-profile events like this one.