72nd National Film Awards: Dhanush’s Raayan wins Best Tamil Film; Amaran and Maharaja bag major honours

Tamil cinema celebrated a memorable outing at the 72nd National Film Awards, with Raayan, Amaran and Maharaja emerging among the biggest winners. The awards, which honor films certified in 2024, recognized outstanding achievements across acting, direction and technical categories, highlighting the strength of Tamil cinema on the national stage.

Leading the celebrations was Dhanush’s Raayan, which won the Best Tamil Film award. Written and directed by Dhanush, the film marked his 50th outing as an actor and his second directorial venture after Pa Paandi. The action drama was widely appreciated for its emotionally driven narrative, powerful performances and confident filmmaking, making it one of the standout Tamil releases of 2024.

Another major winner was Amaran, which secured three National Awards. Director Rajkumar Periasamy was honored with the Best Director award for his acclaimed biographical war drama. GV Prakash Kumar won Best Background Music, while editor R. Kalaivanan received the Best Editing award, recognizing the film’s technical brilliance and impactful storytelling.

Maharaja also enjoyed a successful outing at the prestigious awards ceremony by winning two National Awards. Renowned stunt choreographer Anl Arasu received the Best Action Direction award for the film’s realistic and intense action sequences, while Sachana Namidass was honored as Best Child Artist for her performance, adding two more prestigious accolades to the critically acclaimed thriller.

The recognition for Raayan, Amaran and Maharaja reflects the diversity and quality of Tamil cinema in 2024. From compelling storytelling and strong direction to outstanding technical craftsmanship and memorable performances, the films have earned nationwide appreciation through India’s most prestigious film honours, further reinforcing Tamil cinema’s growing influence on the national stage.