The National Film Awards, one of India’s most prestigious film honours, has undergone significant changes in its categories and awards for the 70th edition in 2022. These changes include renaming awards, merging categories, and increasing prize money.
The changes were suggested by a committee set up by the Information and Broadcasting ministry to rationalize the honours given in different categories.
Here’s a detailed look at the key changes:
Renaming of Awards
- The ‘Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director‘ has been renamed ‘Best Debut Film of a Director’. The prize money will now go solely to the director, whereas earlier it was split between the producer and the director.
- The ‘Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration‘ will now be known as the ‘Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values’. This change merges award sections for social issues and environmental conservation into one.
Prize Money Revision
- The monetary reward for the Dadasaheb Phalke award, presented annually to an Indian film personality for their outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.
- The prize money for the Swarn Kamal awards has been increased to Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh for Rajat Kamal winners across categories. Previously, the award money varied from category to category.
Category Mergers and New Categories
- The ‘Best Animation Film’ and ‘Best Special Effects’ categories have been clubbed under a new category named ‘Best AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) Film’ with two sub-categories.
- The ‘Best Audiography’ category, which had three sub-categories, will now be known as ‘Best Sound Design‘, with the prize money increased to Rs 2 lakh.
- The ‘Best Music Direction’ category will now be known as ‘Best Background Music‘.
- In the non-feature film category, several segments have been merged to create two segments: ‘Best Documentary‘ and ‘Best Non-Feature Film Promoting Social and Environmental Issues‘. Categories such as ‘Best Film on Family Values’ and ‘Special Jury Awards’ have been discontinued.
These changes reflect the evolving landscape of Indian cinema and the need to recognize and promote films that address important social, environmental, and national issues. The National Film Awards continue to be a beacon of excellence in Indian cinema, honoring the outstanding work of filmmakers and artists across the country.
What are the key changes in the National Film Awards for 2022?
The key changes include renaming awards such as the ‘Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director’ and the ‘Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration’. There have also been mergers of categories, an increase in prize money, and the introduction of new categories.
Who suggested the changes in the National Film Awards?
The changes were suggested by a committee set up by the Information and Broadcasting ministry to rationalize the honours given in different categories.
When will the 70th National Film Awards be held?
The 70th National Film Awards are scheduled to be held in 2022, a year later than usual due to the pandemic.
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