The 72nd National Film Awards lit up Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar with the kind of star power that turns a ceremony into a page‑turning saga. A crowd of industry veterans, the glint of awards, and the scent of nachos and chai set the stage for a night that would rewrite a record.
Bramayugam isn’t your run‑of‑the‑mill horror flick; it’s a psychological labyrinth where Mammootty’s Kodumon Potti drips tension with every glance. The role demanded a subtle terror that kept audiences on the edge, and the actor delivered with a quiet ferocity that left critics buzzing. In a genre that often leans on jump scares, the film leaned on atmosphere, and Mammootty was the maestro.
What makes this win feel like a triumph isn’t just the trophy. It’s the fact that the previous Best Actor nod came in 1996 for Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and now, 28 years later, he’s back in the spotlight with the same gold. That interlude is a testament to his enduring craft, a narrative that spans three decades of Malayalam cinema.
On the red carpet, Mammootty kept it real, calling the award “an inspiration to every performer” and crediting a long line of collaborators. He promised to keep working hard, hinting that the next chapter of his career is just getting underway.
The tie with Amitabh Bachchan amplifies the drama. While Bachchan’s wins spanned from Agneepath to Piku, Mammootty’s cross‑regional acclaim underscores the national scope of the awards. With Kartik Aaryan also bagging Best Actor for Chandu Champion, the awards this year felt like a celebration of diversity in Indian cinema.
The night closed with applause and a quiet nod to the future. For fans, the takeaway is simple: Mammootty’s legacy is cemented, and the silver screen still has fresh stories to tell. And for the industry, the record stands as a reminder that talent doesn’t age—it evolves.