72nd National Film Awards: Dhanush receives Special Mention for performance in ‘Captain Miller’

Tamil actor Dhanush was honoured with a Special Mention for his performance in Captain Miller at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. President Droupadi Murmu presented the honour to Dhanush on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).

The National Film Awards ceremony was held outside New Delhi for the first time. Dhanush received the Special Mention for Best Actor for his role in Captain Miller, directed by Arun Matheswaran. The period action film is set in pre-Independence India.

Captain Miller also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values. The film was produced by Sathya Jyothi Films.

Dhanush’s directorial Raayan was adjudged the Best Tamil Film. “This is my third National Film Award as a director. None of this would have been possible without my fans. The recognition for Captain Miller is close to my heart because I have always believed it to be my finest performance to date. Winning my first-ever National Award as a director for Raayanis a blessing I will cherish forever,” Dhanush had said after his win in July.

The Hindu review of Captain Miller said, “Dhanush the actor has come a long way; if his first decade in cinema personified him as the poster boy for the meandering youth who is found to be a menace even by his family, the previous decade is when he has gotten the space to truly spread his wings and build a portfolio to showcase the talent powerhouse he is.”

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The 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on July 19, 2025, with awards recognising work across different areas of Indian cinema. The ceremony in Ekta Nagar marks a change in the way the National Film Awards are being presented.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to take the celebrations to different parts of the country in the coming years. The move aims to bring the celebration of Indian cinema closer to different regions and showcase the country’s cultural and cinematic diversity.