The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is underway in New Delhi this evening, with the red carpet drawing a steady stream of industry figures ahead of the main event. Among the early arrivals was Yami Gautam, who walked the carpet to represent her film, which is competing in this year's awards. Her presence came as one of the more anticipated moments of the evening, given the strong critical response her work has received over the past year.

Notably absent from the red carpet were Dhanush and Kartik Aaryan, both of whom skipped the pre-ceremony arrivals despite being expected to attend. Dhanush, a two-time National Award winner, has been a fixture at the ceremony in past years, making his absence this evening a talking point among those gathered at the venue. Neither actor has issued a statement explaining the decision to bypass the carpet, and it remains unclear whether either will appear inside the auditorium for the main proceedings.

Yami Gautam Leads Early Arrivals

Yami Gautam's arrival drew immediate attention from the photographers stationed at the entrance. She is attending the ceremony to represent her film, which has been recognized in this year's awards. Her appearance marks a continued run of high-profile projects for the actor, who has balanced mainstream and independent cinema in recent years. She stopped briefly for photographs but did not address the press before entering the venue.

The National Film Awards remain the country's most prestigious government-backed honours for cinema, covering features, non-features, and technical achievements across multiple languages. The ceremony traditionally brings together winners from regional industries alongside Hindi cinema, and this year's edition is no exception, with a broad spread of honourees expected to take the stage through the evening.

Organizers had signalled a larger in-person turnout this year compared to recent editions, which were scaled back. Security around the venue has been tightened, and the guest list includes a mix of veterans, first-time nominees, and government officials.

Absences Raise Eyebrows

The decision by Dhanush and Kartik Aaryan to stay away from the red carpet has not gone unnoticed. Dhanush has been central to several National Award conversations over the past decade, and his films have regularly featured in the honours list. His absence is especially notable given his track record with the awards body. Sources close to the event have not confirmed whether he is scheduled to appear later in the programme.

For Kartik Aaryan, the skip comes during a busy stretch of his career. He has been among the more visible younger leads in Hindi cinema, and his attendance would have added star weight to the carpet. As with Dhanush, no reason has been offered publicly.

It is common for nominees and winners to avoid the red carpet while still attending the ceremony itself, sometimes to manage crowd flow or to arrive closer to their category's presentation. Whether that is the case here remains to be seen.

What to Expect Through the Evening

The bulk of the evening's news will come from the awards themselves, with winners across feature film, direction, acting, and technical categories set to be announced as the ceremony progresses. The National Film Awards are decided by a jury appointed by the government, and the results are typically kept under wraps until the announcement on stage, which is why the red carpet tends to be a procession of speculation rather than confirmation.

Hindi cinema's showing this year will be watched closely, particularly in the acting categories, where the competition has been described as unusually tight. Regional films are also expected to figure prominently, continuing a pattern in which the awards spread recognition well beyond the Mumbai industry.

For now, the confirmed developments are limited: Yami Gautam has arrived, Dhanush and Kartik Aaryan have not walked the carpet, and the ceremony is proceeding as scheduled. Further details, including the full list of winners, will emerge as the evening unfolds. Hindi Movie Buzz will update this story as more information becomes available.

The National Film Awards have been held annually since 1954, and the 72nd edition continues that tradition tonight.

Source: Filmibeat