\ HONOURS CONFERRED ON MASS COMMUNICATORS Vol. 36 2016 NO 1 This service is meant primarily for the use of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and its media units. This paper gives in brief a background to the National Film Awards as also the details of the 63rd National Film Awards. NATIONAL DOCUMENTATION CENTRE ON MASS COMMUNICATION NEW MEDIA WING (FORMERLY RESEARCH REFERENCE AND TRAINING DIVISION) (MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING) Room No.437-442, Phase IV, Soochana Bhavan, CGO Complex, New Delhi Compiled, Edited & Issued by National Documentation Centre on Mass Communication NEW MEDIA WING (Formerly Research, Reference & Training Division) Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Chief Editor L. R. Vishwanath Editor Alka Mathur NATIONAL FILM AWARDS Recognized as one of the liveliest of arts, cinema is both a means of creative expression and a powerful medium of mass communication. It is a popular means of entertainment as well as an instrument of social change. Realizing its vast potential, the government has been promoting cinema in the country for the past many years. The National Film Awards like various other promotional schemes of the government aim at encouraging the production of quality films. Started on the recommendations of the Film Enquiry Committee, (headed by S.K. Patil in 1954) as an annual incentive, the State Film Awards strive to promote aesthetic and technical standards of films. The nomenclature of the awards was changed to National Film Awards in 1956. The awards have since come a long way to cover the entire spectrum of Indian Cinema. Initially, only three awards were instituted: the President’s Gold medal for the best feature film and the best documentary and the Prime Minister’s Silver Medal for the best Children’s film. The medallions were later changed to Swrana Kamal and Rajat Kamal. Cash prizes were also added to these awards subsequently. In order to promote cinema, the government introduced awards in various Indian languages and dialects in 1955. Separate awards for artistes and film technicians were also introduced in 1968. To commemorate the centenary of Dada Saheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, an award was instituted in 1969 to honour the distinguished film personalities for their outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. The award initially carried a cash prize of Rs.11, 000/-, a plaque and shawl. The cash prize now has been enhanced to Rs. 10, 00,000/-. In order to give encouragement to film writers, an award was instituted in 1980 for the “Best Book on Cinema”. It has now been changed to “Best Writing on Cinema” to include the best book as well as the best film critic. Advancement in film technology also warranted institution of more awards for technical excellence. The film awards have been revamped recently. Several sub awards have been instituted in some categories. The best audiography award has been sub 1 categorized in three. They are (a) for location sound recordist (b) for sound designer and (c) for re-recordist of the final mixed track. All the above carry a Rajat Kamal and Rs. 50,000/- each. The best screenplay award has been expanded to include (a) Screenplay writer (original) (b) Screenplay writer (adapted) and (c) dialogues. All the above carry a Rajat Kamal and a cash prize of Rs 50, 000/-. The best music direction category would now include (a) best music director (songs) and (b) best music director (background score). Both these awards also carry a Rajat Kamal and Rs.. 50, 000/- each. Non-feature films which started with the lone best documentary award have also come to encompass a wide range of categories including the recently introduced technical award for the best cinematography, editing, audiography and music direction. A new award has been introduced this year to be given to most film friendly state. The award carries a Rajat Kamal and a Certificate. As part of this revamp the selection process has also been changed. Five regional panels were set up for pre-selection of films from north, west, east and two panels for south. The North panel included films in English, Punjabi, Dogri, Urdu, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani and Central Indian languages. West included Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and Konkani. East included Bengali, Assamese, Oriya and dialects spoken in the north east. South-I had Tamil and Malayalam while South-II had Kannada, Telugu, and Tulu. Each regional panel comprised a chairperson and one member (both of whom were from outside the region) and three other members from the region. The Central Jury comprised of a Chairperson and 10 members of whom five were the Chairperson of the five regional juries. This year the best feature film category awards were decided by the central jury under the chairmanship of noted film maker. Ramesh Sippy. The Non-feature films awards were decided under the chairmanship of Vinod Ganatra while the Best Writing on cinema awards were decided by a jury under the chairmanship of Advaita Kala. The jury for the Most Film Friendly State comprised of Ashwani Lohani, Sudhir Mishra, Bharatbala Ganapathy and Pravesh Sahni 2 Sixty Third National Film Awards The Best Feature Film award has been bagged this year by Baahubali produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Arka Media Works (P) Ltd.and directed by S.S. Rajamouli. The film gets a Swarna Kamal and Rs. 2, 50, 000/- (The cash component is to be shared between the the producer and the director). The award for the best non-feature film has been given to Amdavad Ma Famous produced by Akanksha Tewari and Arya. A. Menon and directed by Hardik Mehta. The film gets a Swarna Kamal and Rs. 1, 50, 000/- each for the producer and the director. In Best Writing on Cinema category, the best book on cinema award has gone to Dr. Rajakumar Samagra Charithre written by Doddahulluru Rukkoji. The book has been published by Preeti Pustaka Prakashan. The award carries a Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 75, 000/- each for the author and the publisher. The award for the best film critic has gone to Meghachandra Kongbom. He gets a Swarna Kamal and Rs. 75, 000/-. The prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award is being conferred this year on veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar. The newly constituted award for the Most Film Friendly state has gone this year to Gujrat. The award carries a Rajat Kamal and certificate. (For details of the awards please see annexure) 3 ANNEXURE SIXTY THIRD NATIONAL FILM AWARDS 1. FEATURE FILMS S. No. Category Film Recipient Award Citation (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 1. Best Feature Film Baahubali Producer: Shobu Swarna Kamal and An imaginative film and Yarlagadda and Rs. 2,50,000/-each monumental by its production Mediaworks Pvt. to the Producer and values and cinematic brilliance Ltd. Director (Cash in creating a fantasy world on Director: Component to be screen. S.S. Rajamouli Shared) 2. Indira Gandhi Masaan Producer: Swarna Kamal and For his perceptive approach to Award for Best Phantom Films Rs. 1,25,000/- each filmmaking in handling a Debut Film of a Director: Neeraj to the Producer and layered story of people caught Director Ghaywan Director up changing social and moral values. 3. Best Popular Film Bajrangi Bhaijaan Producer: Salma Swarna Kamal and Tackling an important social Providing Khan, Rs. 2,00,000/- each issue in the simple heart- Wholesome Salman Khan, to the Producer and warming & entertaining format. Entertainment Rockline Venktesh Director Director: Kabir Khan 4 In the following categories the Producer & Director get a Rajat Kamal and cash Prize of Rs.1, 50,000/- each. The Producer & Director of Best Children’s Film gets a Swarna Kamal in place of Rajat Kamal. The Best Director gets a Swarna Kamal and cash prize of Rs. 2, 50, 000/-. The Best Animation film gets a Swarna Kamal and a cash Prize of Rs. 1, 00, 000/- for the producer, director and animator. S. Category Film Recipient Citation No. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 4. Nargis Dutt award for Nanak Shah Fakir Producer: Gurbani Media Pvt. The saga on the life of the great spiritual Best Feature Film on Ltd. master advocating the value of peace and National Integration harmony. 5. Best Film on Social issues Nirnayakam Producer: Jairaj Films For tackling a relevant and unaddressed issue of curtailing freedom of movement of Director: V.K. Prakash the common man due to hartals and processions. 6. Best Film on Valiya Chirakulla Producer: Ananthakrishna A dramatically disturbing exposition of the Environment Pakshikal Pillai ill effects of pesticides in North Kerala. Conservation/Preservation Director: Dr. Biju 7. Best Children’s Film Duronto Producer: Code Red Films Story of a child prodigy on his undying spirit to achieve the impossble. Director: Soumendra Padhi 8. Best Direction Bajirao Mastani Director: Sanjay Leela Bansali For the masterful handling of all aspects of the medium of cinema to weave a tragic love story within a grand historic drama. 5 II. BEST ARTISTES AND TECHNICIANS The recipients in the following categories get a Rajat Kamal and cash prize of Rs. 50, 000/- The recipient of Special Jury Award get Rs.2,00.000/- in place of Rs. 50, 000/- S. Category Film Recipient Citation No. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 9. Best Actor Piku Amitabh Bachchan A delightful, delectable performance of a man who finally lets himself go, at the age of seventy. 10. Best Actress Tanu Weds Manu Kangana Ranaut For her dynamic portrayal of two contrast Returns characters, laced with mirth and charm. 11. Best Supporting Actor Visaaranai Samuthirakani For the minimalistic yet stark and moving performance as a cop, caught in a moral dilemma.