Film & Cinema Current Affairs: 1–7 October 2026

 

1. 72nd National Film Awards – Major Current-Affairs Topic


The 72nd National Film Awards remain one of the most important film-related topics for current-affairs preparation in October 2026. The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu on 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, recognising achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024.


The 72nd edition is particularly significant because the National Film Awards ceremony was taken beyond New Delhi and hosted at Ekta Nagar. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has indicated that future ceremonies will also be taken to different parts of the country, linking cinema with India's cultural and regional diversity.


Major winners


Category| Winner

Best Feature Film| Article 370

Best Director| Rajkumar Periasamy – Amaran

Best Actor| Mammootty – Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan – Chandu Champion

Best Actress| Yami Gautam – Article 370

Best Debut Director| Randeep Hooda – Swatantrya Veer Savarkar

Best Non-Feature Film| Bhangaar

Best Documentary| Ram-Nami


The awards recognised films and artists working across several Indian languages and cinematic traditions. Films such as Kalki 2898 AD, Amaran, Pushpa: The Rule Part-02, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Stree 2 also received recognition in different categories.


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2. Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024 – Anant Nag


Veteran actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony.


The award recognises his contribution of more than five decades to Indian cinema. He has worked extensively in Kannada cinema as well as in other Indian-language films.


Important facts


- Award: Dadasaheb Phalke Award

- Award year: 2024

- Recipient: Anant Nag

- Ceremony: 72nd National Film Awards

- Venue: Ekta Nagar, Gujarat

- Presented by: President Droupadi Murmu

- Award instituted: 1969

- First recipient: Devika Rani


The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is regarded as the highest honour in Indian cinema and recognises outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.


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3. National Film Awards – Important Historical Facts


The National Film Awards were instituted in 1954. The first awards recognised films released in 1953.


The awards cover three principal areas:


1. Feature Films

2. Non-Feature Films

3. Writing on Cinema


The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the lifetime honour associated with outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.


The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969, with Devika Rani as its first recipient.


Historical connection


Dadasaheb Phalke, whose full name was Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, directed Raja Harishchandra in 1913, a landmark in the development of Indian feature filmmaking.


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4. First Santhali Film Recognition in the Non-Feature Section


The 72nd National Film Awards highlighted India's linguistic diversity. For the first time, a Santhali film received recognition in the Non-Feature Film section.


This is important from the perspective of:


- Tribal culture

- Indigenous languages

- Regional cinema

- Cultural diversity

- Preservation of linguistic heritage


The National Film Awards therefore serve not merely as cinema awards but also as an instrument for recognising India's multilingual and multicultural character.


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5. National Film Awards and Cultural Diversity


The Government describes the National Film Awards as an important platform for recognising India's diverse cinematic traditions.


The 72nd edition received entries from 34 languages covering 400 feature films and 24 languages covering 161 non-feature films. Awards were presented across numerous feature and non-feature categories.


Why important for exams?


This connects cinema with the broader themes of:


Culture → Language → Regional identity → National integration → Soft power


Indian cinema therefore plays an important role in projecting India's cultural diversity both domestically and internationally.


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6. National Film Awards – Award Structure


The National Film Awards include Swarna Kamal and Rajat Kamal awards in various categories.


According to the official factsheet, the Feature Film section contains 26 categories, while the Non-Feature Film section contains 16 categories, with additional special mentions.


The Dadasaheb Phalke Award carries:


- Swarna Kamal

- Shawl

- Cash prize


For the 72nd National Film Awards, the cash component of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was ₹10 lakh.


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7. National Film Awards Administration


The National Film Awards were initially administered through the Directorate of Film Festivals.


In 2022, the Directorate of Film Festivals was merged into the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), which became the implementing body associated with the awards.


Exam Fact


2022 → Directorate of Film Festivals merged into NFDC


This is a useful fact for questions concerning the institutional structure of India's film administration.


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8. WAVES – India's Emerging Global Media and Entertainment Platform


The Government has also been using the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) as a major platform for India's media and entertainment sector.


Following the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry announced that the next edition of WAVES will be held in October 2027.


WAVES is relevant to India's ambition to strengthen its position in:


- Film

- Television

- Animation

- Gaming

- Digital media

- Entertainment technology

- Global content creation


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Important Film & Cinema Facts for Competitive Exams


National Film Awards


- Instituted: 1954

- First awards: Films of 1953

- Administered earlier by: Directorate of Film Festivals

- Present implementing body: NFDC

- Major sections: Feature, Non-Feature and Writing on Cinema

- Highest cinema honour: Dadasaheb Phalke Award


Dadasaheb Phalke Award


- Instituted: 1969

- First recipient: Devika Rani

- 2024 recipient: Anant Nag

- Award recognises outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.


72nd National Film Awards


- Awards year: 2024

- Winners announced: 18 July 2026

- Ceremony: 22 September 2026

- Venue: Ekta Nagar, Gujarat

- Presented by: President Droupadi Murmu

- Best Feature Film: Article 370

- Best Director: Rajkumar Periasamy – Amaran

- Best Actress: Yami Gautam – Article 370

- Best Debut Director: Randeep Hooda – Swatantrya Veer Savarkar

- Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Anant Nag


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20 One-Liner Film & Cinema Current Affairs


1. The 72nd National Film Awards were presented on 22 September 2026.

2. The ceremony was held at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.

3. The awards recognised Indian cinema for the year 2024.

4. The 72nd National Film Awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu.

5. Article 370 won Best Feature Film.

6. Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Director for Amaran.

7. Mammootty won Best Actor for Bramayugam.

8. Kartik Aaryan was also awarded Best Actor for Chandu Champion.

9. Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370.

10. Randeep Hooda won Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.

11. Bhangaar was selected as Best Non-Feature Film.

12. Ram-Nami was selected as Best Documentary.

13. Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024.

14. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969.

15. Devika Rani was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

16. The National Film Awards were instituted in 1954.

17. The first National Film Awards honoured films released in 1953.

18. The Directorate of Film Festivals was merged into NFDC in 2022.

19. The 72nd edition recognised India's multilingual cinematic diversity.

20. The next WAVES edition is scheduled for October 2027.




Sources


- Press Information Bureau, Government of India

- Ministry of Information & Broadcasting

- National Film Awards official factsheet

- National Film Development Corporation (NFDC)

- President's Secretariat

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