🇮🇳 National Awards 2025: Full List of Winners, Highlights & Surprises
The 71st National Film Awards, National Sports Awards, and Padma Awards 2025 have honored India’s finest talents across cinema, sports, and civilian achievements.
🎬 National Film Awards 2025 (71st Edition)
Announced on August 1, 2025, these awards recognized the best of Indian cinema from the year 2023. Here are the key highlights:
⭐ Major Winners:
| Category | Winner(s) |
|---|---|
| Best Actor | Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan), Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) |
| Best Actress | Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway) |
| Best Feature Film | 12th Fail (Hindi) |
| Best Hindi Film | Kathal |
| Best Popular Film | Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani |
| Best Supporting Actor | M.S. Bhaskar (Parking) |
| Best Music Direction | G.V. Prakash (Vaathi) |
| Best Telugu Film | Bhagavanth Kesari |
| Best Tamil Film | Parking |
🥇 Shah Rukh Khan’s Historic Win:
After more than 30 years in cinema, Shah Rukh Khan finally bagged his first National Award, tying with Vikrant Massey, who was praised for his emotional performance in 12th Fail.
🏅 National Sports Awards 2025
Held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025, these awards honored top athletes who brought pride to India.
🏆 Khel Ratna Awardees:
- D. Gukesh – Chess Grandmaster, World Champion
- Manu Bhaker – Shooting, Olympic medallist
- Harmanpreet Singh – Hockey captain
- Praveen Kumar – Paralympic High Jump Gold Medallist
🥈 Arjuna Award Highlights:
- 32 athletes across disciplines received the prestigious Arjuna Award.
- Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, received a special Lifetime Achievement recognition.
🏫 Institutional Honours:
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar to multiple sports development institutions.
- MAKA Trophy shared by Chandigarh University, LPU, and GNDU.
🏛️ Padma Awards 2025
India’s highest civilian awards were announced on January 26, 2025, with a grand ceremony in April.
📜 Award Breakdown:
- Padma Vibhushan – 7 recipients
- Padma Bhushan – 19 recipients
- Padma Shri – 113 recipients
🌟 Notable Awardees:
| Name | Award | Field |
|---|---|---|
| Justice J.S. Khehar | Padma Vibhushan | Public Affairs |
| Dr. Soniya Nityanand | Padma Shri | Medicine – Hematology |
| Lavjibhai Parmar | Padma Shri | Tangalia weaving (Art) |
| M.T. Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous) | Padma Vibhushan | Literature |
| Neerja Bhatla | Padma Shri | Women’s Health (Gynaecology) |
| Bhim Singh Bhavesh | Padma Shri | Social Work – Upliftment of Musahar community |
This year’s awards included 23 women, 10 NRIs/foreigners, and 13 posthumous recipients — reflecting diversity and national pride.
💬 Public Reactions
Shah Rukh Khan fans were ecstatic, calling his National Award "long overdue." Vikrant Massey’s win was hailed as a boost to content-driven cinema. 12th Fail dominated the conversation with its realism and underdog narrative.
Meanwhile, Kerala CM’s criticism of The Kerala Story winning Best Cinematography sparked political debate and media buzz.
🎥 Where to Watch the Winning Films?
Many of the winning films are available on streaming platforms:
- 12th Fail – Netflix
- Kathal – Netflix
- Jawan – Prime Video
- Parking – Disney+ Hotstar
- Bhagavanth Kesari – Zee5
The National Awards 2025 celebrated stories of struggle, brilliance, and service to the nation. From cinema to sports and civilian excellence, the awardees reflect India’s vibrant talent and resilience.
Whether you’re a movie buff, sports fan, or socially aware citizen, this year’s honorees are sure to inspire.