National Film Awards to move out of Delhi for first time, Gujarat to host ceremony

The 72nd National Film Awards are likely to be presented in Ekta Nagar in Narmada district during President Droupadi Murmu's Gujarat visit. The move would take the ceremony out of New Delhi for the first time.

The National Film Awards are set to break with decades of tradition this year. For the first time, the prestigious awards ceremony is expected to move out of New Delhi, with Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, home to the Statue of Unity, likely to host the 72nd edition.

President Droupadi Murmu is expected to present the awards during her Gujarat visit later this month. According to reports, she is likely to travel to Ekta Nagar as part of the visit and present the National Film Awards there.

The proposed venue marks a significant departure from the long-standing tradition of holding the National Film Awards in the national capital. In recent years, the ceremony has been held at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan, with the President traditionally presenting the honours to the winners.

The 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi in July. The awards recognised films released in 2024, with Article 370 winning Best Feature Film and Yami Gautam being named Best Actress. Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor award.

President Droupadi Murmu is expected to present the awards during her Gujarat visit later this month. According to reports, she is likely to travel to Ekta Nagar as part of the visit and present the National Film Awards there.

The proposed venue marks a significant departure from the long-standing tradition of holding the National Film Awards in the national capital. In recent years, the ceremony has been held at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan, with the President traditionally presenting the honours to the winners.

The 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi in July. The awards recognised films released in 2024, with Article 370 winning Best Feature Film and Yami Gautam being named Best Actress. Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor award.

This year's awards also saw filmmaker Aanand L Rai win Best Direction in the non-feature category for Statue of Unity – Ekta ka Prateek. The possibility of the ceremony being held in Ekta Nagar is particularly notable given its connection to the Statue of Unity, one of Gujarat's major landmarks.