Everything About Indian National Film Awards | Society of Indian Film Critic Awards

National Film Awards are the most prestigious film award ceremony in India. The awards were established in 1954.

It has been managed along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, which is governed by the Indian government’s Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.

Every year, a national panel is appointed by the government which selects the winning entry. The award ceremony is held in New Delhi and the President of India presents the awards.

The award function is followed by the inauguration of the National Film Festival. The 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, as well as presenting awards for the best films in each region and language of the country.

This award show has been referred to as the Indian film industry’s equivalent to the Academy Awards in the United States. Let`s learn everything about the Indian National Film Awards. Here is:

Everything About Indian National Film Awards

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History of National Film Awards

The Awards were first presented in 1954. The Government of India conceived the ceremony to honour films made across India, on a national scale, to encourage the furthering of Indian art and culture.

Since 1973, the Indian Directorate of Film Festivals administers the ceremony along with other major film events in India annually.

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Rules of National Film Awards

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 have influence over which films are selected for consideration and which films ultimately win awards.

There are strict criteria as to whether a film is eligible for consideration by the jury panels.

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The National Film Award Regulations are presented every year in a document format which is a list of rules. The eligibility criteria have many clauses.

One of the criteria states a direct requirement for the makers of a film, especially the director, to be Indian nationals. Films entering the competition should be produced in India.

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If it is a co-production involving a foreign entity, then it has as many as six conditions that should be fulfilled for the film to qualify.

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.

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Whether a film is considered a feature film, or a non-feature film shall be decided by the Feature Film jury. The eligibility list includes a section of rules determining which films shall not be eligible for entry into the competition.

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Categorization of National Film Awards

The Awards are categorized into three sections viz. Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Best Writing on Cinema. With each section having its requirements.

Feature Film and Non-Feature Film sections aim at encouraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance, contributing to the understanding and appreciation of cultures of different regions of the country in cinematic form, thereby promoting 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.

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Prize for National Film Awards

All the award winners are awarded with a Medallion, a cash prize, and a certificate of merit.

Six categories from the Feature Films section, two from Non-Feature Films and Best Writing on Cinema sections each have been made eligible for the Swarna Kamal Award (Golden Lotus Award), and the rest of the categories for Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus Award).

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Lifetime Achievement Award

Dadasaheb Phalke Award

A lifetime achievement award, named after the father of Indian cinema Dadasaheb Phalke, is awarded to a film personality for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema

Various categories of awards in each section are listed below.

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(A) Feature Film Awards

1. Golden Lotus Award

Official name – Swarna Kamal

• Best Feature Film
• Best Director
• Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
• Best Children’s Film
• Best Debut Film of a Director
• Best Animated Film

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2. Silver Lotus Award

Official Name: Rajat Kamal

• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Supporting Actor
• Best Supporting Actress
• Best Child Artist
• Best Music Direction
• Best Male Playback Singer
• Best Female Playback Singer
• Best Lyrics
• Best Art Direction
• Best Audiography
• Best Choreography
• Best Cinematography
• Best Costume Design
• Best Editing
• Best Make-up
• Best Screenplay
• Best Special Effects
• Best Stunt Choreography
• Special Jury Award
• Special Mention
• Best Film on Environment Conservation / Preservation
• Best Film on Family Welfare
• Best Film on National Integration
• Best Film on Other Social Issues

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3. Best Feature Film

17 of the 22 languages specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India are considered for awards.

• Best Feature Film in Assamese
• Best Feature Film in Bengali
• Best Feature Film in Bodo
• Best Feature Film in Dogri
• Best Feature Film in Gujarati
• Best Feature Film in Hindi
• Best Feature Film in Kannada
• Best Feature Film in Kashmiri
• Best Feature Film in Konkani
• Best Feature Film in Malayalam
• Best Feature Film in Manipuri
• Best Feature Film in Marathi
• Best Feature Film in Odia
• Best Feature Film in Punjabi
• Best Feature Film in Tamil
• Best Feature Film in Telugu
• Best Feature Film in Urdu

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4. Best Feature Film

in each of the languages other than those specified in an Eighth schedule of the Constitution of India are as below.

• Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri
• Best Feature Film in English:
• Best Feature Film in Khasi
• Best Feature Film in Kodava
• Best Feature Film in Kokborok
• Best Feature Film in Monpa
• Best Feature Film in Tulu

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5. Discontinued Awards

• Second Best Feature Film
• Third Best Feature Film
• Best Story

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(B) Non-Feature Film Awards

1. Golden Lotus Award

Official Name: Swarna Kamal

• Best Non-Feature Film
• Best Director

2. Silver Lotus Award

Official Name: Rajat Kamal

• Best First Film of a Director
• Best Audiography
• Best Cinematography
• Special Jury Award / Special Mention
• Best Editing
• Best Music Direction
• Best Narration / Voice Over
• Best Agriculture Film
• Best Animation Film
• Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film
• Best Arts / Cultural Film
• Best Biographical Film
• Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film
• Best Environment/Conservation/Preservation Film
• Best Exploration / Adventure Film
• Best Film on Family Welfare
• Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film
• Best Investigative Film
• Best Promotional Film
• Best Scientific Film
• Best Short Fiction Film
• Best Film on Social Issues

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3. Discontinued Awards

• Best Experimental Film
• Best Filmstrip
• Best Industrial Film
• Best News Review
• Best Newsreel Cameraman

(C) Writing on Cinema

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1. Golden Lotus Award

Official Name: Swarna Kamal

• Best Book on Cinema
• Best Film Critic

In the year 2021 National Award for Best Film in Hindi was awarded to Chhichhore, while Best Actor (male) was given to Manoj Bajpayee and Best Actor (female) was given to Kangana Ranaut.

Society of Indian Film Critic Awards: FAQ

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