New Delhi: The announcement of Article 370 as the Best Feature Film at the National Film Awards 2026 has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with users celebrating the film's success, praising Yami Gautam Dhar's performance, and debating whether the recognition was influenced by its political subject matter.

Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Article 370 is based on the events surrounding the Narendra Modi-led government's 2019 decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. The 2024 political action thriller stars Yami Gautam Dhar and Priyamani in lead roles.

While many users congratulated the makers, others viewed the decision through a political lens. One user remarked that the National Film Awards had become "BJP Awards", suggesting Article 370's recognition was influenced by the film's portrayal of the Narendra Modi-led government's 2019 revocation of Article 370. 

 

Another user criticised the jury's choices more broadly, writing, "WTF. National Awards have become PR trophies. Yami winning for Article 370 and Kartik sharing Best Actor is peak circus... What a joke," alleging that the honours were no longer based purely on merit.

Another user posted in Hindi, "राष्ट्रीय फिल्म पुरस्कार 2026 धारा 370 फिल्म को जीतना ही था" ("Article 370 was bound to win the National Film Award 2026"). The post was interpreted by several users in the replies as a sarcastic comment on the jury's decision.

Several users, however, focused on the film's cinematic merits. One post described Article 370 as a "genuinely well-made film" that effectively brought to the screen the tense events leading up to the revocation of Article 370. The user also praised Yami Gautam's performance, saying she "absolutely deserved" the National Award.

The announcement also sparked comparisons with Kangana Ranaut's Emergency. One user questioned why Yami Gautam was honoured over Ranaut, arguing that the actor had taken on challenging roles portraying former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

However, the comparison overlooks the eligibility criteria for this edition of the awards. Article 370 was released in February 2024, making it eligible for the current National Film Awards cycle, while Emergency was released in 2025 and therefore falls outside the eligibility period.

Humour also found its way into the online discussion. One widely shared meme featured former US President Barack Obama presenting a medal to himself with the caption "aura". Users shared the meme to sarcastically suggest that honouring a film based on the abrogation of Article 370 amounted to celebrating a policy introduced by the same political establishment that currently governs the country.

 

Another post jokingly remarked that Yami Gautam had won the award for her husband Aditya Dhar's "outstanding work in Dhurandhar." The quip was widely interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek reference to Dhar's association with films centred on national security and political themes, with some users using it to continue the broader debate over whether politically themed films receive preferential recognition.

 

Released worldwide on February 23, 2024, Article 370 earned more than ₹110 crore at the global box office against a reported budget of around ₹20 crore. The film received praise from several critics for its direction, screenplay and Yami Gautam's performance, while others criticised it for allegedly presenting a narrative favourable to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The film had previously won the Best Story award at the 70th Filmfare Awards and received multiple nominations across major categories.