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🛕 Kamal, Shabana, Mammootty: Who’s the Real GOAT of National Awards?

TL;DR:The National Film Awards leaderboard is out. Kamal Haasan, Shabana Azmi, and Mammootty lead the pack with the most wins in acting categories. Here's the full lowdown and why it matters.

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The Real Hall of Fame: National Awards Leaderboard

The National Film Awards are India’s highest government honours for cinematic excellence. While many come and go, only a few names dominate year after year.

As of August 2025, here are the top stars with the most National Awards in performance categories:

Name

National Awards

Iconic Roles

Shabana Azmi

5

Arth, Godmother, Khandhar

Kamal Haasan

4

Nayakan, Moondram Pirai, Indian

Amitabh Bachchan

4

Black, Paa, Piku, Agneepath

Kangana Ranaut

4

Queen, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Manikarnika

Mammootty

3

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

Tabu

2

Maachis, Chandni Bar

Om Puri

2

Ardh Satya, Arohan

(Source: Rediff, 4 Aug 2025)

Why These Awards Matter

Started in 1954, the National Film Awards stand apart from commercial or sponsored trophies. Run by the Directorate of Film Festivals, they are judged by independent panels, recognising content from across Indian languages—not just Hindi.

These awards reward craft, character depth, and social storytelling over mass entertainment or box-office numbers.

Who Benefits—and Who’s Ignored?

Winners:

  • Actors with pan-Indian careers across languages—like Kamal Haasan and Mammootty

  • Artists who take up bold, socially relevant scripts

  • Women like Shabana and Tabu who’ve consistently challenged stereotypes

Left Out:

  • Mass entertainers—like Govinda or Rajinikanth—often overlooked despite massive public support

  • Comedians and commercial heroes in Telugu and Tamil cinema, unless they break into “serious” roles

  • Some regional industries, especially Northeast and Bhojpuri cinema, rarely make the cut

What It Means for the Youth

  • Young actors and creators get a signal: substance over spectacle

  • Regional talent finds national validation

  • Audiences get exposure to rich cinema beyond Bollywood

Says Naveen, a 24-year-old film student from Hyderabad:“Kamal sir never chases awards—but they chase him. That’s legacy.”

MediaFx Take

National Film Awards aren’t perfect—but they’re still India’s most respected yardstick for cinematic brilliance. However, the jury needs to widen its lens. More Telugu, Kannada, and underrepresented voices deserve their moment.

Let’s not wait another decade to honour the next icons.


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