Dhanush Wins Best Regional Film and Special Mention at National Film Awards

Dhanush Claims His First Directorial National Award for Raayan

Dhanush’s Dual Recognition at the 72nd National Film Awards

In the most recent awards cycle, actor and filmmaker Dhanush achieved a career milestone by winning his first National Award as a director for the film Raayan, which was named Best Tamil Film. Simultaneously, the jury awarded him a Special Mention for his role in Captain Miller. These honors, announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday in New Delhi, mark his third National Award as an actor and his inaugural win in the directorial category.

Responding to the announcement via X, Dhanush expressed his gratitude for the recognition. “I’m truly humbled and overwhelmed to have received the National Award for Best Regional Film for ‘Raayan’ and the National Award (Special Mention – Best Actor) for ‘Captain Miller’. My heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed National Film Awards jury and the selection committee,he wrote. He added,My sincere thanks to the press, media and the social media fraternity for their unwavering support throughout my career. This is my third National Award as an actor and my first National Award as a director. None of this would have been possible without my fans – the pillars of my strength. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Jury Member Kala Master Defends the Selection of Captain Miller

Jury Member Kala Explains the Selection Process

The awards have drawn significant scrutiny from audiences, with many viewers taking to social media to voice their disappointment over the lack of recognition for films like Maharaja and Meiyazhagan. Addressing these concerns, choreographer Kala Master, who served as a jury member in the Feature Films category for the 72nd National Film Awards, defended the collective decision-making process. Speaking to reporters after the awards were announced, Kala said she was honored to serve on the jury for the second time and was especially delighted to see Tamil cinema emerge with multiple honors this year.

Kala clarified that the jury was particularly impressed by Dhanush’s commitment to Captain Miller. Reflecting on his performance, she noted that the actor left a strong impression on the entire jury, including members from North India. According to her, several jurors felt he deserved a Special Jury Award, which ultimately went in his favor. She added that the Best Actor category witnessed intense competition.

Kasthuri Raja Responds to Public Criticism of the Jury Results

Public Backlash and the Debate Over Tamil Cinema

Despite the official explanations, the awards have sparked heated discussions. Ever since the 72nd National Film Awards for the films released in 2024 were announced, social media has been flooded with criticisms against the jury members. Many people claimed that Raayan is a mediocre commercial film and that the selections seemed biased. Some audiences expected that films such as Sivakarthikeyan’s Amaran or Meiyazhagan would win in the Best Tamil Film category.

The debate has extended to the Best Actor category as well. While some viewers expressed happiness that Mammootty won for Bramayugam, others felt that Vikram’s acting performance in Thangalaan deserved recognition. Some critics suggested that the jurors should have at least awarded Vikram the Best Actor award in the Special Mention category, leading to claims that the jury favored Dhanush.

Dhanush’s father, director Kasthuri Raja, weighed in on the criticism surrounding his son’s awards. In comments reported on July 20, 2026, he stated that whether or not an actor receives an award is ultimately the decision of the central government and the jury, and that his son is not someone who actively craves such accolades.

Rajkumar Periasamy’s Amaran Dominates the Technical Categories

Broad Recognition Across the 72nd National Film Awards

While the focus remained on the debate surrounding Dhanush, other productions achieved notable success. Director Rajkumar Periasamy’s Amaran emerged as a major winner at the 72nd National Film Awards for 2024, clinching top honors in direction, background music, and editing. The jury praised the film for its powerful storytelling and technical excellence, with jury chair Jayaraj noting that the film pays a heartfelt tribute to the courage and sacrifice of a real-life soldier.

Music composer G. V. Prakash Kumar secured the award for Best Music Direction (Background Score), marking his third National Award. Prakash said he was deeply humbled and immensely grateful for the recognition, thanking the jury, the film’s team, and producer Kamal Haasan. Editor R. Kalaivanan was also honored for Best Editing.

As the conversation continues, Dhanush remains focused on the significance of his directorial achievement. Reflecting on the win for Raayan, he noted, A first is always unforgettable! Winning my very first National Award as a Director for Raayan is a blessing I will cherish forever.

Sources: Polimernews, timesofindia.indiatimes.com.