71st National Film Awards 2025: Shah Rukh, Rani & Arijit Singh Shine

Overview: The 71st National Film Awards honored the best of Indian cinema from 2023. Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Vikrant Massey won top acting honors, while Mohanlal received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Arijit Singh and Shilpa Rao were recognized for exceptional playback singing.

Riyaz

Sep-26-2025

71st National Film Awards 2025: Shah Rukh, Rani & Arijit Singh Shine

The 71st National Film Awards were presented on 23rd September 2025 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, by President Droupadi Murmu. These awards celebrated outstanding achievements in Indian cinema for films released in 2023. This edition emphasized women-centric stories and socially relevant themes, highlighting the evolving landscape of Indian filmmaking. Notably, several first-time winners received recognition, showcasing fresh talent and diverse voices in the industry. The ceremony honored excellence across various categories, reinforcing the importance of meaningful storytelling and cultural representation in India’s vibrant film community.

Major Highlights

Venue: Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi
Date of Ceremony: 23rd September 2025
Organised by: National Film Development Corporation (NFDC)
Awarded for: Films released in 2023

Key Award Winners

Award Category	Winner
Best Actor	Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) & Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)
Best Feature Film	12th Fail – Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Best Actress	Rani Mukerji – Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway
Dadasaheb Phalke Award	Mohanlal – Lifetime Achievement in Indian Cinema
Best Supporting Actor	Pankaj Tripathi – OMG 2
Best Supporting Actress	Shefali Shah – Three of Us

Playback Singing Awards – 71st National Film Awards

At the 71st National Film Awards, the Best Male Playback Singer award was conferred upon Arijit Singh for his soulful rendition of the song "Phir Aur Kya Chahiye" from the film Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. Known for his deep emotional expression and vocal versatility, this recognition further solidified Arijit Singh’s position as one of the most celebrated playback singers in the Indian music industry.

In the Best Female Playback Singer category, Shilpa Rao received the award for the hit song "Chaleya" from the film Jawan. This award marked a significant milestone in Shilpa Rao’s career, as it was her first National Film Award. Her expressive and melodious performance in the romantic track was widely appreciated by both audiences and critics.

Conclusion

In the 71st National Film Awards, Arijit Singh and Shilpa Rao were honored for their outstanding playback singing. Arijit, one of India’s most successful singers, added another milestone to his illustrious career. These awards highlight the growing recognition of soulful, emotionally rich music in contemporary Indian cinema.