72nd National Film Awards: Telugu cinema bags 9 awards; 'Kalki 2898 AD', 'Pushpa 2' win big

Telugu cinema walked away with nine awards at the 72nd National Film Awards, announced on Saturday. The big-budget spectacles Kalki 2898 AD and Pushpa 2: The Rule emerged as the biggest winners of the night.

The awards, which recognise the best in Indian cinema from the previous year, saw a strong showing from the South. The jury's choices sparked celebrations in Hyderabad and across the Telugu film industry.

Telugu sweep: nine awards and counting

Among the nine awards won by Telugu cinema, Kalki 2898 AD — the mythological sci-fi epic directed by Nag Ashwin — took home several technical honours. The film was praised for its visual effects, production design, and background score.

Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun as the rugged sandalwood smuggler, won awards for Best Actor (for Allu Arjun) and Best Music Direction. The film's chartbuster songs and raw performances were widely lauded by the jury.

Other Telugu films that won included Balagam (Best Feature Film in Telugu) and Virupaksha (Best Special Effects). Officials said the regional sweep reflected the growing quality and scale of Telugu cinema.

Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan share Best Actor honour

In a rare tie, veteran Malayalam superstar Mammootty and Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan were jointly awarded the Best Actor trophy. Mammootty won for his performance in the Malayalam film Kaathal – The Core, where he played a man grappling with his sexuality in a conservative society.

Kartik Aaryan's win came for his role in Chandu Champion, a biographical sports drama about a physically challenged athlete. The actor, who underwent a dramatic physical transformation for the role, called the award a 'dream come true' in a brief statement.

The Best Actress award went to Nithya Menen for her nuanced turn in the Malayalam film Thiruchitrambalam. The film also won Best Direction for director M. Manikandan.

Fans disappointed as 'The Goat Life' and 'Thangalaan' miss out

Not everyone was happy with the winners. Fans of Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran expressed disappointment after his survival drama The Goat Life did not win in any category. The film, based on a true story, had generated significant buzz.

Similarly, Tamil star Vikram's period action film Thangalaan — in which he played a tribal leader — was also overlooked. Social media was flooded with posts calling the snub 'unfair' and 'shocking'.

Industry insiders said the competition this year was exceptionally stiff, with over 300 films vying for awards across categories. The jury had to make tough choices.

Dulquer Salmaan's perfect response to Mammootty's win

As news of Mammootty's fourth National Award spread, actor Dulquer Salmaan — Mammootty's son — had the perfect response. Taking to social media, Dulquer posted a simple photo of his father with the caption: 'Legends don't age. They just collect more trophies.'

The post quickly went viral, with fans and celebrities alike showering praise on the father-son duo. Dulquer himself is a National Award winner, having won Best Actor for Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal in a previous year.

The 72nd National Film Awards will be formally presented at a ceremony in New Delhi later this year. The full list of winners is expected to be published by the Directorate of Film Festivals in the coming days.