The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government’s Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.
Every year, a governmental panel appoints the winning entry, and the awards are presented during a ceremony in New Delhi, where the President of India officiates. This is followed by the inauguration of the National Film Festival, where award-winning films are screened for the public.
Declared for films produced in the previous year across the country, they hold the distinction of awarding merit to the best of Indian cinema overall, while also recognizing outstanding films in every region and language of the country.
National Film Award: History
These Awards were first presented in 1954. The Government of India initiated the ceremony to recognize films produced throughout the nation and foster the advancement of Indian art and culture on a national level.
Since 1973, the Indian Directorate of Film Festivals administers the ceremony along with other major film events in India annually.
National Film Award: Juries and rules
The National Film Awards are presented in two main categories: Feature Films and Non-Feature Films. The juries are appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals in India.
Neither the Government nor the Directorate has influence over which films are selected for consideration and which films ultimately win awards.
Each year, over 100 films from across the country are submitted for consideration in each category (Feature and Non-Feature) for the awards, subject to strict eligibility criteria set by the jury panels.
A list of rules is presented every year in a document of regulations known as the National Film Award Regulations.
Eligibility Criteria:—
The criteria for eligibility contain many clauses such as Among them, there is a direct requirement for the makers of a film, and particularly the director, to be Indian nationals. Films entering the competition should be produced in India. The criterion for the selection contains several clauses. Given below are a few criteria followed by the national jury while selecting the winning list.
- According to the criteria, a film has to be certified between January 1 and December 31 by the Central Board of Film Certification. Only then is the film eligible to enter the competition.
- Films that are entering into the competition must be produced in India. If the film is co-produced by a foreign entity, then six other conditions have to be fulfilled. After meeting all the conditions, a film is qualified for the winning entry list.
- The film entering the competition should be directed by an Indian. This is one of the major requirements for the entry of the film into the competition.
Awards
The Awards are divided into three sections: Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Best Writing on Cinema. Each section has its objectives. The Feature Film and Non-Feature Film categories aim to promote the creation of films that exhibit aesthetic and technical excellence while also addressing social issues.
These films contribute to the understanding and appreciation of cultures of different regions of the country in cinematic form, thereby promoting the unity and integrity of the nation. The Best Writing on Cinema section aims to encourage the study and appreciation of cinema as an art form and dissemination of information and critical appreciation of the art form through the publication of various books, articles, reviews, newspaper coverage, and studies.
Furthermore, there is a lifetime achievement award named after the father of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, which is presented to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of Indian Cinema.
All the award winners are awarded a Medallion, a cash prize, and a certificate of merit. Six categories from the Feature Films section, two from the Non-Feature Films and Best Writing on Cinema sections each have been made eligible for Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus Award), and the rest of the categories for Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus Award)
National Film Award Categories –
| Category | Awards |
|---|---|
| A | National Film Award for Best Actor National Film Award for Best Actress National Film Award for Best Agriculture Film National Film Award for Best Animated Film National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Animation Film National Film Award for Best Anthropological/Ethnographic Film National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Assamese National Film Award for Best Audiography National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Audiography |
| B | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali National Film Award for Best Biographical Film National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema |
| C | National Film Award for Best Child Artist National Film Award for Best Children’s Film National Film Award for Best Choreography National Film Award for Best Cinematography National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Cinematography National Film Award for Best Costume Design |
| D | Dadasaheb Phalke Award National Film Award for Best Direction National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Direction |
| E | National Film Award for Best Editing National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Editing National Film Award for Best Educational/Motivational/Instructional Film National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English National Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Environment/Conservation/Preservation Film National Film Award for Best Exploration/Adventure Film |
| F | National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer National Film Award for Best Feature Film National Film Award for Best Film Critic National Film Award for Best First Non-Feature Film of a Director |
| H | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi National Film Award for Best Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film |
| I | Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director National Film Award for Best Investigative Film |
| K | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada |
| L | National Film Award for Best Lyrics |
| M | National Film Award for Best Make-up Artist National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi National Film Award for Best Music Direction National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction |
| N | National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Narration/Voice Over National Film Award for Best Stunt Choreography Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film |
| O | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Odia National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues |
| P | National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award for Best Production Design National Film Award for Best Promotional Film |
| S | National Film Award for Best Scientific Film National Film Award for Best Screenplay National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film National Film Award for Best Special Effects National Film Award for Best Short Fiction Film National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film) National Film Award – Special Jury Award (non-feature film) National Film Award – Special Jury Award/Special Mention (Book on Cinema) National Film Award – Special Mention (feature film) National Film Award – Special Mention (non-feature film) National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| T | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu |
List of National Film Awards records
| Category | Recipient | No. of Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Most awards for a single film | ||
| Lagaan (2001) | ||
| Bajirao Mastani (2015) | ||
| Godmother (1998) | ||
| Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) | ||
| Aadukalam (2010) | ||
| Sonar Kella (1974) | ||
| Daasi (1988) | ||
| Lekin… (1990) | ||
| Thevar Magan (1992) | ||
| Jogwa (2008) | ||
| Kutty Srank (2009) | ||
| Haider (2014) | ||
| Nathicharami (2018) | ||
| Soorarai Pottru (2020) | ||
| Most awards won by a male | ||
| Satyajit Ray | 36 | |
| Mrinal Sen | 18 | |
| Shyam Benegal | 16 | |
| Goutom Ghosh | 16 | |
| Adoor Gopalakrishnan | 14 | |
| Tapan Sinha | 14 | |
| Rituparno Ghosh | 12 | |
| Buddhadeb Dasgupta | 10 | |
| Gireesh Karnad | 10 | |
| K. S. Sethumadhavan | 9 | |
| A. Sreekar Prasad | 9 | |
| K. Balachander | 8 | |
| P. Sheshadri | 8 | |
| Jayaraj | 8 | |
| K. J. Yesudas | 8 | |
| Shaji N. Karun | 7 | |
| G. Aravindan | 6 | |
| Vairamuthu | 6 | |
| T. S. Nagabharana | 6 | |
| Vishal Bhardwaj | 6 | |
| M. T. Vasudevan Nair | 6 | |
| S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 6 | |
| A. R. Rahman | 5 | |
| B. V. Karanth | 5 | |
| Adurthy Subba Rao | 5 | |
| K. Viswanath | 5 | |
| T. V. Chandran | 5 | |
| Gulzar | 5 | |
| Ilaiyaraaja | 5 | |
| Kaushik Ganguly | 5 | |
| Tarun Majumdar | 5 | |
| Most awards won by a female | ||
| Aparna Sen | 9 | |
| K. S. Chithra | 6 | |
| Shabana Azmi | 5 | |
| P. Susheela | 5 | |
| Most awards for Best Director | ||
| Satyajit Ray | 6 | |
| Adoor Gopalakrishnan | 5 | |
| Mrinal Sen | 4 | |
| G. Aravindan | 3 | |
| Goutom Ghosh | 2 | |
| Aparna Sen | 2 | |
| Rituparno Ghosh | 2 | |
| Buddhadeb Dasgupta | 2 | |
| Most awards for Best Actor | ||
| Amitabh Bachchan | 4 | |
| Mammootty | 3 | |
| Kamal Hasan | 2 | |
| Mohanlal | 2 | |
| Mithun Chakraborty | 2 | |
| Naseeruddin Shah | 2 | |
| Sanjeev Kumar | 2 | |
| Om Puri | 2 | |
| Ajay Devgn | 2 | |
| Dhanush | 2 | |
| Most awards for Best Actress | ||
| Shabana Azmi | 5 | |
| Kangana Ranaut | 3 | |
| Sharada | 2 | |
| Shobana | 2 | |
| Tabu | 2 | |
| Archana | 2 | |
| Smita Patil | 2 | |
| Most awards for Best Supporting Actor | ||
| Nana Patekar | 2 | |
| Atul Kulkarni | 2 | |
| Pankaj Kapoor | 2 | |
| Most awards for Best Supporting Actress | ||
| Surekha Sikri | 3 | |
| K. P. A. C. Lalitha | 2 | |
| Most awards for Best Music Director | ||
| A. R. Rahman | 6 | |
| Ilaiyaraaja | 5 | |
| Jaidev | 3 | |
| Vishal Bhardwaj | 2 | |
| BV Karanth | 2 | |
| K. V. Mahadevan | 2 | |
| Satyajit Ray | 2 | |
| Johnson | 2 | |
| Most awards for Best Lyricist | ||
| Vairamuthu | 7 | |
| Javed Akhtar | 5 | |
| Gulzar | 2 | |
| Na. Muthukumar | 2 | |
| Swanand Kirkire | 2 | |
| Pras |
69th National Film Awards 2023 Winners List
| Category | Name of the winners |
| Best Feature Film | Rocketry |
| Best Director | Nikhil Mahajan, Godavari |
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | RRR |
| Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration | The Kashmir Files |
| Best Actor | Allu Arjun, Pushpa |
| Best Actress | Alia Bhatt, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Kriti Sanon, Mimi |
| Best Supporting Actor | Pankaj Tripathi, Mimi |
| Best Supporting Actress | Pallavi Joshi, The Kashmir Files |
| Best Child Artist | Bhavin Rabari, Chhello Show |
| Best Screenplay (Original) | Shahi Kabir, Nayattu |
| Best Screenplay (Adapted) | Sanjay Leela Bhansali & Utkarshini Vashishtha, Gangubai Kathiawadi |
| Best Dialogue Writer | Utkarshini Vashishtha & Prakash Kapadia, Gangubai Kathiawadi |
| Best Music Director (Songs) | Devi Sri Prasad, Pushpa |
| Best Music Direction (Background Music) | MM Keeravaani, RRR |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Kaala Bhairava, RRR |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Shreya Ghoshal, Iravin Nizhal |
| Best Lyrics | Chandrabose, Konda Polam’s Dham Dham Dham |
| Best Hindi Film | Sardar Udham |
| Best Kannada Film | 777 Charlie |
| Best Malayalam Film | Home |
| Best Gujarati Film | Chhello Show |
| Best Tamil Film | Kadaisi Vivasayi |
| Best Telugu Film | Uppena |
| Best Maithili Film | Samanantar |
| Best Mishing Film | Boomba Ride |
| Best Marathi Film | Ekda Kaay Zala |
| Best Bengali Film | Kalkokkho |
| Best Assamese Film | Anur |
| Best Meiteilon Film | Eikhoigi Yum |
| Best Odia Film | Pratikshya |
| Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director | Meppadiyan, Vishnu Mohan |
| Best Film on Social Issues | Anunaad – The Resonance |
| Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation | Aavasavyuham |
| Best Children’s Film | Gandhi and Co |
| Best Audiography (Location Sound Recordist) | Arun Asok & Sonu K P, Chavittu |
| Best Audiography (Sound Designer) | Aneesh Basu, Jhilli |
| Best Audiography (Re-recordist of the final mixed track) | Sinoy Joseph, Sardar Udham |
| Best Choreography | Prem Rakshith, RRR |
| Best Cinematography | Avik Mukhopadhayay, Sardar Udham |
| Best Costume Designer | Veera Kapur Ee, Sardar Udham |
| Best Special Effects | Srinivas Mohan, RRR |
| Best Production Design | Dmitrii Malich and Mansi Dhruv Mehta, Sardar Udham |
| Best Editing | Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Gangubai Kathiawadi |
| Best Makeup | Preetisheel Singh, Gangubai Kathiawadi |
| Best Stunt Choreography | King Soloman, RRR |
| Special Jury Award | Shershaah, Vishnuvardhan |
| Special Mention | 1. Late Shri Nallandi, Kadaisi Vivasayi 2. Aranya Gupta & Bithan Biswas, Jhilli 3. Indrans, Home 4. Jahanara Begum, Anur |
| Best Non-feature film | Ek Tha Gaon |
| Best Direction (Non-feature film) | Bakul Matiyani, Smile Please |
| Best Debut Non-Feature Film of a Director | Paanchika, Ankit Kothari |
| Best Anthropological Film | Fire on Edge |
| Best Biographical Film | Rukhu Matir Dukhu Majhi and Beyond Blast |
| Best Arts Films | T.N. Krishnan Bow Strings to Divine |
| Best Science & Technology Films | Ethos of Darkness |
| Best Promotional Film | Endangered Heritage ‘Warli Art’ |
| Best Environment Film (Non-feature film) | Munnam Valavu |
| Best Film on Social Issues (Non-feature film) | Mithu Di and Three Two One |
| Best Investigative Film | Looking For Challan |
| Best Exploration Film | Ayushman |
| Best Educational Film | Sirpigalin Sirpangal |
| Best Short Fiction Film | Dal Bhat |
| Best Animation Film | Kandittundu |
| Best Film on Family Values | Best Film on Family Values |
| Best Cinematography (Non-feature film) | Bittu Rawat, Pataal |
| Best Audiography (Re-recordist of the final mixed track) (Non-feature film) | Unni krishnan, Ek Tha Gaon |
| Best Production Sound Recordist (Location/Sync Sound) (Non-feature film) | Suruchi Sharma, Meen Raag |
| Best Editing (Non-feature film) | Abhro Banerjee, If Memory Serves Me Right |
| Best Music Direction (Non-feature film) | Ishaan Divecha, Succelent |
| Best Narration/Voice Over (Non-feature film) | Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee, Hathibondhu |
| Special Mention (Non-feature film) | 1. Aniruddha Jatkar, Baale Bangara, 2. Srikanth Deva, Karuvarai, 3. Sweta Kumar Das, The Healing Touch, 4. Ram Kamal Mukherjee, Ek Duaa |
| Special Jury Award (Non-feature film) | Shekhar Bapu Rankhambe, Rekha |
| Best Book on Cinema | Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal: The Incredibly Melodious Journey by Rajiv Vijayakar |
| Best Film Critic | Purushothama Charyulu |
| Best Film Critic (Special Mention) | Subramanya Bandoor |
FAQs on National Film Awards
Q1. How many categories are there in the National Film Awards?
Ans. The National Film Award is categorized into Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Best Writing on Cinema. Six categories from the Feature Films section, two from the Non-Feature Films and Best Writing on Cinema sections are eligible for Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus Award)
Q2. What are the criteria for the National Film Award?
Ans. According to the criteria, to be eligible for consideration by the jury, a film should be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification between 1 January and 31 December.
Q3. What are the 5 major film awards?
At the Academy Awards, the so-called “Big Five” awards are those for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay.
Q4. Who got the first National Film Award?
Ans. 1. National Film Award was started in 1953. 2. The first award was given to a Marathi film ‘Shyamchi Aai’ directed by PK Atre.
Q5. Which is the highest film award in India?
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest award in the field of cinema.
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