Kalki wins. The award went to its representative
The Telugu film won the 72nd National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The official record names Chalasani Aswinidutt as Vyjayanthi Movies’ representative at the ceremony.
The National Film Award was presented at Ekta Nagar on September 22, 2026.
Telugu film Kalki 2898 AD has won the 72nd National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The official award list names Vyjayanthi Movies as producer and Nag Ashwin Singireddy as director, with a Swarna Kamal and Rs. 3 lakh listed for each awardee. The film’s credentials, at least, survived contact with the government’s paperwork.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22, 2026. The official photo record identifies Chalasani Aswinidutt as Vyjayanthi Movies’ representative for the Kalki award. It does not confirm that Nag Ashwin personally attended or received it, despite the film’s director being named in the award listing. The award itself had already been announced on July 18; September was the presentation, not a surprise reveal staged for the cameras.