National Film Awards 2022 | 20 Aug 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, the winners of the 70th National Film Awards for 2022 were announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

What were the Key Awards Presented at the 70th National Film Awards?

  • Best Feature Film: Aattam (The Play), directed by Anand Ekarshi.
  • Best Non-Feature Film: Ayena (Mirror), directed by Siddhant Sarin.
  • Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kantara.
  • Best Actor in a Leading Role: Rishab Shetty for Kantara.
  • Best Actress in a Leading Role: Nithya Menen for Thiruchitrambalam.
  • Best Supporting Actor: Pavan Raj Malhotra.
  • Best Supporting Actress: Neena Gupta.
  • Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects Gaming & Comic): BRAHMASTRA-PART 1: SHIVA.
  • Best Book on Cinema: “Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography”, authored by Anirudha Bhattacharjee & Parthiv Dhar.

What are the National Film Awards?

  • About: 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.
    • Winners receive a Medallion, a cash prize, and a certificate of merit.
    • Six categories from Feature Films, and two each from Non-Feature Films and Best Writing on Cinema are eligible for the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus Award).
    • The remaining categories are eligible for the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus Award).
  • Categories:
    • Feature Films: Encourages the production of films with aesthetic and technical excellence.
      • Promotes understanding and appreciation of regional cultures and national unity.
      • Swarna Kamal Award receiving 6 Categories under this:
        • Best Feature Film, Best Direction, Best Children’s Film, Best Popular Film providing wholesome entertainment and Best Film in AVGC.
    • Non-Feature Films: Aims to produce films of social relevance and technical quality.
      • Swarna Kamal Award for Best non-feature film and Best Debut film of a Director.
      • Contributes to the appreciation of diverse cultural representations.
    • Best Writing on Cinema: Encourages study and critical appreciation of cinema as an art form.
      • Swarna Kamal Award for Best Book on Cinema and Award for Best Film Critic.
      • Promotes dissemination of information through books, articles, reviews, and studies.
  • Eligibility criteria: Films must be produced in India, with the director and makers being Indian nationals. Co-productions with foreign entities must meet specific conditions.
    • Films should be certified by the Central Board of Film Certification between 1st January and 31st December each year.
    • Over 100 films from across the country are entered in each category (Feature and Non-Feature).
      • The juries, appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals, have strict criteria for eligibility and are not influenced by the Government or Directorate.

What is Dadasaheb Phalke Award?

  • About:
    • It is part of the National Film Awards, a highly coveted collection of honours in the film industry.
      • The Award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the pioneering filmmaker who gave India its first film– ‘Raja Harishchandra’, in 1913.
    • It is awarded for “its outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
  • Overview:
    • The award was instituted by the government in 1969 and consists of a ‘Swarna Kamal’, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a certificate, a silk roll, and a shawl.
      • The President of India presents the award.
    • The first recipient of the award was Devika Rani Roerich in 1969.

Read More: National Film Awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Award