The National Film Awards were established in 1954 to "encourage production of the films of a high aesthetic and technical standard and educational and culture value" and also planned to included awards for regional films.[3][4] In 1984, at the 32nd National Film Awards various new categories were instituted for Swarna Kamal and Rajat Kamal. Categories like the Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume Design along with the Best Film on Other Social Issues were introduced for the Rajat Kamal. This category was introduced to be awarded annually for films produced in the year across the country, in all Indian languages. As of 2016[update] since its inception, the award has been present thirty-three times to thirty-six films. It has been presented for films in seven languages with the highest being twelve in Hindi, followed by ten in Malayalam, five in Tamil, four in Marathi, three in Bengali, two in Kannada and one in Telugu. It was not presented on two occasion in 1985 (33rd ceremony) and 2011 (59th ceremony).[5][6]
The inaugural award was conferred upon production banner Sanket (Rajat Kamal and ₹ 30,000) and director Shankar Nag (Rajat Kamal and ₹ 15,000) for their Kannada film Accident for dealing with the bold topic of whistleblowing against political corruption and dealing with bad effects of alcoholism.[7] On five occasion the award was shared by two films: in 1987 by Tamil films Ore Oru Gramathiley and Vedham Pudhithu, in 1993 by Janani (Bengali) and Naaraayam (Malayalam), in 1994 by Wheelchair (Bengali) and Parinayam (Malayalam), in 2000 by Munnudi (Kannada) and Vetri Kodi Kattu (Tamil), and in 2003 by Hindi films Koi... Mil Gaya and Gangaajal.[8]
Winners
The award includes 'Rajat Kamal' (Silver Lotus) and cash prize to the producers and director each. The first award in 1984 had a monetary association of ₹ 30,000 to the producers and ₹ 15,000 to the directors.[7] In 1995 at the 43rd award ceremony the Marathi film Doghi was honoured and the cash prices were revised to ₹30,000 each presented to the director duo Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar and co-producers National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) and Doordarshan.[9] The monetary association was again revised to ₹ 1,50,000 to both the producers and directors in 2006 at the 54th ceremony where producer Policherla Venkata Subbiah and director Satish Kasetty's Telugu film Hope was the winner.[10]
†
Indicates a joint award for that year
Following are the award winners over the years:
List of films, showing the year (award ceremony), language(s), producer(s), director(s) and citation
For tackling the problem of caste differences and discrimination from the opposite ends of the hierarchy in their own way in a convincing manner and for the rigorous statement they make and the solutions they offer.
For tackling the problem of caste differences and discrimination from the opposite ends of the hierarchy in their own way in a convincing manner and for the rigorous statement they make and the solutions they offer.
For advocating the cause of physically handicapped and upholding their right to be on their own, in a world that is more generous with its sympathy than understanding.
For recreating a real incident in the social history of Kerala, thereby indicating the continued relevance of gender oppression in traditional caste-dominated society.
For its depiction of poverty-stricken rural family consisting of two young sisters. The agony of survival in a tradition bound hostile society and their subsequent liberation is beautifully depicted in the film.
The film stands for the rights of a disabled person to be accorded the privileges of a normal human being within a family and in society. It states in a simple yet convincing manner that the disabled should be encouraged to develop their inner talents.
For its strong theme of a woman's struggle against relentless difficulties heaped upon her by her worthless husband. Her ultimate success and emancipation prove to be socially inspiring.
For discussing issues on migration from one's own land and the social implications that follow, in the heart land of Tamilnadu, highlighting the need to re-establish the holistic culture of society.
For its realistic portrayal of the problems of an uprooted woman who is brought to Mumbai and forced to work in a beer bar. The film is a poignant and sensitive depiction of innocent girls trapped in the vicious cycle of survival in the underworld.
For its deft handling of a complex, sensitive issue in a very sensitive manner. The central characters in the film reflect the traditional virtues of the Indian women, such as self-sacrifice, endurance and forgiveness, to bring two communities together.
For exposing the "marriages for sale" racket and dramatically presenting a browbeaten girl who finds her courage and her voice and rebels against her tyrannical father.
In a world of deprivation, the thirst for an education surpasses the hunger for food amongst two young brothers fending for each other and their mother.
As the title suggests the movie establishes the ills of alcoholism. The film-maker has scored by roping in a popular star to propagate the evil effects of the ‘spirit’!
For a tale of a poor tribal family being torn between prosecution by law enforcing agencies on one hand and issue of loss of their traditional faith and culture through religious conversions on the other.
For depicting the place of women in the late nineteenth century India and the woman's struggle to achieve the almost impossible in those testing times.