President gives away 51st National Film Awards
Mrinal Sen presented Dada Saheb Phalke Award
The
President of India, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam presented the 51st
national film Awards to winners of different categories at a function, last
evening. Noted filmmaker Shri Mrinal
Sen received the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2003. The Dada Saheb
Phalke Award, instituted in 1969, is given every year to a film personality for
outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. The
Award consists of a Swarna Kamal, a Shawl and cash prize of Rs two lakhs.
In his
address, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy
said that for a vast and culturally diverse country like India, it is most
important that the cinematic ethos develops into a multidisciplinary medium
that cuts across regional and language barriers so as to evolve a common
language. The Minister said, these
awards have not only brought many a hidden talent to light but also helped in
encouraging films from the regional languages that otherwise may perhaps not
have come into national recognition. He
said, Indian filmmakers have contributed towards integration and cross-cultural
pollination. Shri Reddy said that the
creative filmmakers have a great responsibility to ensure that religious and
cultural distortions and misunderstandings do not creep into their films. Our films must be above inspire and awaken
this sense of common unity that would give a true and correct direction to the
people of India, he added
The Best
Feature Film Award for the year 2003 was given to Marathi film ‘’Shwaas’’. The
Award carries a Swarna Kamal and Rs 50,000 each for Producer and Director of
the film. Swarna Kamal and cash prize of Rs 40,000 each for Producer and
Director for “Best Popular Film providing wholesale entertainment” was given to
Hindi film “Munnabhai M B B S”. Nargis Dutt Award for the Best Feature Film on
National Integration was presented to Hindi film, “Pinjar”. The Award carries
Rajat Kamal and cash prize of Rs 30,000 each for Producer and Director of the
film. Indira Gandhi Award for the Best First Film of a Director was given to
Malayalam film, “Maargam”. The Award for the best film on other social issues
such as prohibition, women and child welfare, anti-dowry, drug abuse, welfare
of the handicapped etc., was given to the Hindi film, “Koi Mil Gaya”. The Award
for the Best direction was bagged by Goutam Ghose (film Abar Aranye) for his complex weaving of human destinies across
a wide range of socio-political and cinematic histories. Best Actor Award was
given to Vikram for his role in “Pithamagan” while the Award for Best Actress
was given to Meera Jasmine for her role in “Padam Onnu Oru Vilapam”. The Award
for the Best Child Artist was jointly given to Ashwin Chitale and Kalidasan for
their roles in film, “Shwaas” and “Ente Veedu Appontem”. The Award for the Best
Male Playback Singer was given to Sonu Nigam and Best Female Playback singer to
Tarali Sarma. The Special Jury Award was given to actor Manoj Bajpai for his
portrayal in “Pinjar”, of the dilemma of a man caught between the dictats of
his community and his love for his wife.
Saibal Chatterjee was presented the Best Film Critic award for incisive,
bold and realistic criticism of the film industry couched in a refreshing style
of writing. In all, awards in 29
categories of the feature film section and 22 categories in non-feature section
were presented. Nine best regional
language films were also given awards.
RS/AS
(Release ID :6876)