Overview
- At Vigyan Bhawan, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the 71st National Film Awards, with Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) jointly receiving Best Actor and 12th Fail named Best Feature Film.
- Rani Mukerji earned Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, her first National Film Award after a decades-long career.
- Mohanlal received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema and was greeted with a standing ovation.
- Other major honors included The Kerala Story for Best Director (Sudipto Sen), Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and Sam Bahadur for promoting national and social values.
- The ceremony drew loud cheers for the marquee winners, with tributes from family members to Shah Rukh Khan on social media and reports that Vikrant Massey carried a pen from the 12th Fail set as a personal keepsake.