Thiruvananthapuram | Malayalam superstar Mammootty scaled another peak, clinching his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor for a riveting performance in 'Bramayugam' widely regarded as among the finest of his illustrious five-decade run in cinema.
The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on Saturday by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Directed by Rahul Sadasivan of 'Bhoothakaalam'-fame, the film departed sharply from mainstream storytelling, drawing on the southern state's folklore and supernatural beliefs.
At its centre stood Mammootty's enigmatic Kodumon Potti, a character whose quiet authority and unsettling presence dominated the narrative from beginning to end.
Eschewing dramatic dialogue and exaggerated mannerisms, Mammootty brought the character to life through remarkable restraint, nuanced expressions and carefully timed pauses, allowing his commanding screen presence to hint at the darkness lurking beneath a calm exterior.
The role had earlier won Mammootty the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor, with critics hailing it as fresh proof of his willingness to push creative boundaries even after decades at the top of the industry.
The latest honour places him in the rare company of actors who have won the National Award for Best Actor four times.
His earlier wins came for 'Mathilukal' and 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha' in 1989, 'Ponthan Mada' and 'Vidheyan' in 1993, and 'Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar' in 1998.
Far from slowing down, Mammootty has, in recent years, gravitated increasingly towards unconventional cinema, favouring complex, character-driven roles over formulaic star vehicles.
Films such as 'Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam', 'Kaathal The Core' and 'Bramayugam' bear testimony to his continuing appetite for experimentation.
The award caps an eventful phase in the actor's career, coming close on the heels of the Padma Bhushan and a string of critically acclaimed performances.
Mammootty shared this year's Best Actor honour with Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan.
The veteran actor, in a Facebook post, congratulated the co-winners of the National Awards and thanked Bramayugam director for giving him the character of Kodumon Potty.
"Heartfelt congratulations to Dhanush, Vaikom Vijayalakshmi, Shehnad Jalal, Rajkumar Periyasamy, Team Feminichi Fathima, Team Bhadra Kali Natakam, and all the winners of the coveted National Awards. Truly well deserved!
Thanks Team #Bramayugam and Rahul Sadasivan, for entrusting me with Kodumon Potty," Mammootty said.
National Film Awards jury chairperson Jayaraj said Mammootty's performance in 'Bramayugam' stood out among this year's contenders and that the film was the favourite of all the jury members.
There was strong competition in the Best Actor category, but Mammootty's performance remained the clear frontrunner, he told reporters in New Delhi after announcing the awards.
"Mammootty is still ever youthful and has many more films ahead of him," Jayaraj said.
He noted that 'Bramayugam' was the film most admired by the jury, adding that while several aspects of the film deserved recognition, it was not possible to confer multiple awards on a single film.
According to the makers, the film, presented by Night Shift Studios and YNOT Studios, is "a rooted story set in the dark ages of Kerala." The cast also includes Arjun Ashokan, Sidharth Bharathan and Amalda Liz in pivotal roles. Shehnad Jalal handled the cinematography, Shafique Mohammed Ali the editing and Christo Xavier composed the music.
Chennai | Actor-filmmaker Dhanush on Saturday expressed his profound gratitude after winning two National Film Awards, calling the recognition for his directorial venture "Raayan" and his performance in "Captain Miller" deeply meaningful milestones in his career.
Sharing a formal statement on the microblogging platform X, Dhanush said he was "truly humbled and overwhelmed" to receive the National Award for Best Regional Film for Raayan and a National Award Special Mention for Best Actor for Captain Miller.
These recent wins mark Dhanush's third National Award as an actor and his first-ever as a director. He dedicated the accolades to his supporters, noting that none of this would have been possible without his fans, whom he referred to as the "pillars of my strength."
He won the Best Actor awards for 'Adukalam' (2010) and 'Asuran' (2019).
The actor revealed that the acting nod always holds significant personal value.
"This recognition for Captain Miller is especially close to my heart because I have always believed it to be my finest performance to date," Dhanush stated in his thank you note, adding that receiving a Special Mention for a performance he holds so dearly makes the honour even more meaningful.
He further described winning his first award as a director for Raayan as an unforgettable blessing that he will cherish forever.
In his statement, Dhanush extended his sincere thanks to the awards jury, the selection committee, the press, media, and social media fraternity for their unwavering support throughout his career.
Chennai | Overwhelmed by his Best Director win at the 72nd National Film Awards for the Tamil biographical war drama "Amaran", filmmaker Rajkumar Periyasamy on Saturday dedicated the honour to the real life heroes.
"I would like to dedicate it to the family of Mukund Varadarajan and the entire Indian army," Periyasamy declared in a poignant tribute to the man whose real life heroism was propped up in 70mm splendour in Amaran, a blockbuster.
The film stars Sivakarthikeyan as Major Varadarajan and Sai Pallavi as his wife Indhu Rebecca Varghese. It is an adaptation of a chapter on the slain Ashok Chakra awardee in the book "India's Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes" by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh.
"Any filmmaker will be overjoyed to win a National Award. But that I got it in the Best Direction category is overwhelming," the director told PTI.
He emphasised that achieving this for Amaran made the moment "even more special."
Describing the project as an "important journey" in his career, Periyasamy said, "It is the best recognition one could ask for."
At the 72nd National Film Awards, 'Amaran' additionally secured top honours including Best Music Direction for GV Prakash Kumar and Best Editing for R Kalaivanan.
