There are awards for films — flashy, noisy, predictable — and then there are the National Film Awards: classy, measured, and filled with significance. They're not for who trod the most red carpets, but for who made the camera utter words of truth. And at the 71st installment of these iconic awards, Indian cinema experienced one of its most emotional and strength-filled nights in recent times.

Held in New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan on September 23, 2025, the ceremony honoured films released in 2023. But it felt like so much more than a ceremony — it was a celebration of artistic perseverance, overdue recognition, and the kind of storytelling that challenges, heals, and inspires.

Shah Rukh Khan: A Win 30 Years in the Making

The emotional pulse of the evening was Shah Rukh Khan. For years, he's been Indian cinema's global face — the King of Romance, the Badshah of Bollywood, the one who defined a generation. But even with a career that's been replete with iconic performances, SRK had never received a National Award for acting — until the evening.

He won the Best Actor award for Jawan, a film that was not only a box office hit but a cultural phenomenon. His portrayal of a vigilante against systemic injustice provided people not only entertainment but catharsis. And to see him finally get this national award so late in his career touched me deeply. He wore a dignified black suit with his now-iconic salt-and-pepper hair as he accepted the award gracefully and modestly. A clip of him struggling to put on the medal — until fellow laureate Rani Mukerji assisted him — went quietly viral. It was more than a sentimental moment. It was symbolic: two vets, two friends, supporting one another to shoulder the burden of legacy.

Rani Mukerji: A Queen Reclaimed

Talking of Rani Mukerji, the Best Actress award for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway was a tearful highpoint. The film, inspired by a true mother's fight against an international legal system, had Rani give one of her most stripped-bare and visceral performances. It was the type of performance that reminds people how impactful cinema could be when fueled by reality.

Rani has presented us with unforgettable characters throughout the years, but this performance connected differently. It wasn't sanitized, it wasn't secure — it was raw, chaotic, and immensely human. Her award wasn't for a single film — it seemed like an acceptance of her body of work within cinema.

Vikrant Massey: The Soul of 12th Fail

While Shah Rukh's victory was the victory of a legend, Vikrant Massey's victory was the arrival of one. His performance in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 12th Fail — a tale of a UPSC candidate who refuses to yield — won him Best Actor (along with SRK) and won the film Best Feature Film overall.

12th Fail wasn't flashy. It lacked the glam of a hit. But it had heart. It was a tale of everyday India, of struggle, hope, failure, and grit. Vikrant's performance was so truthful, so natural, that you did not notice the actor — you noticed yourself, your brother, your neighbor, your younger self. His win is one for every outsider attempting to succeed without a shortcut.

Kathal: A Satire That Stuck

One of the greatest surprises of the evening was one of the most delightfully joyful ones: Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery taking home Best Hindi Film. A satire thinly veiled in absurdity, the film addressed local politics, police indifference, and societal pressure — all under the guise of a pilfered jackfruit. Yes, actually.

But that's what makes Indian cinema special: it discovers greatness in the strange. Yashowardhan Mishra directed and Sanya Malhotra starred in Kathal, which was both hilarious and crepuscularly realistic. Its victory meant something lovely — that even satire, if approached with honesty, is worthy of the national stage.

Mohanlal: A Lifetime of Greatness

No National Awards are complete without honoring a legend, and this year it went to Malayalam legend Mohanlal, who was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement in Indian cinema. Having spent more than four decades in the industry, Mohanlal has changed the face of acting not only in Kerala, but all over the nation. His victory was not only anticipated — it was mandatory.

As he stepped onto the stage, there was an air of thankfulness in the air — not only from him, but for him. There are very few artists who come along and alter the vocabulary of performance. Mohanlal is one of them.

Cameos of Kindness and Class

What made the ceremony of this year so special was its atmosphere. There was competition, no. Camaraderie. When SRK and Rani grinned at one another, when Vikrant thanked his co-actors, when directors clapped for fellow directors — it reminded us what art is all about: connection.

And of course, there were the blink-and-you-smile moments. Guest appearances by other celebrities such as Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Karan Johar, and even SS Rajamouli in audience reactions and congratulatory messages gave the evening a feel of a communal celebration of Indian cinema, industry and language aside.

A Shift in the Wind

The 71st National Film Awards were not so much about rewarding excellent performances — they were about a change of sensibility. The jury appeared to prefer substance over hype, earthy stories over showy spectacle, and feeling over ornamentation.

This is noteworthy. It implies that Indian cinema stands at a crossroads — where content-based films can hold their own against commercial behemoths, where regional voices are given equal importance, and where performance finally takes precedence over popularity.

Movies such as 12th Fail, Kathal, and even Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway are not merely award-winners — they are a part of an bigger movement. A movement towards meaningful cinema that represents society, defies conventions, and tells stories with substance.

The 71st National Film Awards weren’t about glitz — they were about grace. They were about saying “we see you” to the quiet fighters of cinema, to the stories that often get lost in the noise.

From Shah Rukh Khan finally receiving the national love he has long deserved, to Vikrant Massey proving that raw talent will always rise, from Rani’s powerful comeback to Mohanlal’s crowning glory — this was an edition filled with emotion, gratitude, and legacy.

It made us remember why we're in love with movies to begin with. Not with the stars. But with the stories. And those people who have the guts to tell them.