The complete list of winners at the 58th National Film Awards:
BEST FEATURE FILM: Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)
Producer: Salim Ahamed
Director: Salim Ahamed
Swarna Kamal and Rs 2,50,000
For a simple yet evocative articulation of humanist values that frees matters of faith from the constrictions of narrow parochialism. The concerns of Abu, son of Adam, are timeless and universal in their scope.
INDIRA GANDHI AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT FILM OF A DIRECTOR: Baboo Band Baaja (Marathi)
Producer: Nita Jadhav
Director: Rajesh Pinjani
Swarna Kamal and Rs 1,25,000
For a riveting tale of a father reluctant to educate his son, a mother who fiercely believes in its liberatory value, and the son who is caught in the crossfire, ‘Baboo’ is an outstanding debut project by director.
AWARD FOR BEST POPULAR FILM PROVIDING WHOLESOME ENTERTAINMENT: Dabangg (Hindi)
Producer: Arbaaz Khan, Malaika Arora Khan and Dhilin Mehta
Director: Abhinav Singh Kashyap
Swarna Kamal and Rs 2,00,000
Answers the need of cinegoers for entertainment rooted in Indian soil.
NARGIS DUTT AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM ON NATIONAL INTEGRATION: Moner Manush (Bengali)
Producer: Gautam Kundu
Director: Goutam Ghose
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
For celebrating the union of the human spirit through the life and song of Sufi poets in the Baul tradition.
BEST FILM ON SOCIAL ISSUES: Champions (Marathi)
Producer: Aishwarya Narkar
Director: Ramesh More
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
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.
BEST FILM ON ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION/PRESERVATION: Bettada Jeeva (Kannada)
Producer: Basantkumar Patil
Director: P Sheshadri
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
An old couple steeped in the soil of their environment yearn for the return of their son while nurturing the growth of their young plantation against all odds.
BEST CHILDREN’S FILM: Hejjegalu (Kannada)
Producer: Basantkumar Patil
Director: PR Ramadas Naidu
Swarna Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
A little girl cheerfully takes on the challenge to preserve the fabric of her family.
BEST DIRECTION: Vetrimaran for Aadukalam (Tamil)
Swarna Kamal and Rs 2,50,000
For a gritty tale of love, jealousy and betrayal in the midst of bloodsport and violence, in the manner of realistic cinema.
BEST ACTOR: Dhanush for Aadukalam (Tamil) and Salim Kumar for Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
Two riveting performances that fuse character and actor into one: To Dhanush for the raw, nuanced portrayal of a cocky young man who learns lessons about life the hard way. To Salim for a deep, restrained performance of a simple man with an unshakeable belief in his quest for salvation.
BEST ACTRESS: Mitalee Jagtap Varadkar for Baboo Band Baaja (Marathi) and Saranya Ponvannan for Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
The picture of two mothers whose concern for bettering the lives of their children in the face of untold hardship: As a mother who strives to realise through her son her dreams of a better future. As a fiercely combative single mother who shields her son to the point of sacrifice.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: J Thambi Ramaiah for Mynaa (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For a heart-warming performance as a policeman who discovers his humanity in the process of capturing an escaped fugitive.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Sukumari for Namma Gramam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For a sensitive portrayal of an aged widow who challenges orthodoxy when restrictions are placed upon her widowed granddaughter.
BEST CHILD ARTIST: Harsh Mayar for I am Kalam (Hindi), Shantanu Ranganekar and Machindra Gadkar for Champions (Marathi) and Vivek Chabukswar for Baboo Band Baaja (Marathi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000 (Shared)
Four actors for expressing with charm and heartbreak the world of the child: For performing with bright, shining eyes and an urchin smile, the razor sharp spirit of a survivor who dreams of excelling. For two brothers bonded by blood and responsibility battling for survival in the underbelly of a heartless city. For capturing the indomitable spirit of a young village boy who is hungry to learn in an environment that closes all doors on him.
BEST MALE PLAYBACK SINGER: Suresh Wadkar for Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For rendering soulful lyrics in a resonant voice soaked in emotion with a purity of musical expression and spiritual empathy.
BEST FEMALE PLAYBACK SINGER: Rekha Bhardwaj for Ishqiya (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For a sensual and evocative rendering of a heart longing for the beloved.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Madhu Ambat for Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the visual poetry that augments and reinforces the concern of the narrative and for unfolding the infinite vistas of nascent digital technology in the visual medium.
BEST SCREENPLAY: (Original): Vetrimaran for Aadukalam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For its kaleidoscopic variety that uses realism, tradition and contemporaneity, soaked in local flavour on an infinite canvas.
BEST SCREENPLAY: (Adapted): Anant Mahadevan and Sanjay Pawar for Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For retaining the concerns and values of a biographical account while translating it into the cinematic medium and honouring the essence of the original.
BEST SCREENPLAY: (Dialogues): Sanjay Pawar for Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For bringing to life the textures of various characters through articulating their emotion and thought process.
BEST AUDIOGRAPHY: Kaamod Kharade (Location Sound Recordist) for Ishqiya (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For capturing the soft nuances and variations of the artists’ voices and location ambience in a sensorial manner.
BEST AUDIOGRAPHY: Subhadeep Sengupta (Sound Designer) for Chitrasutram (Malayalam)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the use of various sound effects along with existing ambience to impart a subliminal experience in this abstract work.
BEST AUDIOGRAPHY: Debajit Changmai (Re-recordist of the final mixed track) for Ishqiya (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For merging voices, location ambience, background music and other sound effects to create a near-tactile experience that is both real and artistic.
BEST EDITING: TE Kishore for Aadukalam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the subliminal impact created by the use of montage so as to bring to the fore thematic concerns of the narrative in a holistic manner.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: Sabu Cyril for Enthiran (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000
For the style and finesse realised in the creation of a set design that is coherent with the futuristic visual style of the narrative.
BEST COSTUME DESIGNER: Indrans Jayan for Namma Gramam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For realising effectively the texture of a period in the history of modern India through miniscule attention to detailing.
BEST MAKE-UP ARTIST: Vikram Gaikwad for Moner Manush (Bengali)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the admirable detailing and remarkable consistency achieved in the etching of the characters across an extensive time span.
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION (Songs): Vishal Bhardwaj for Ishqiya (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For blending rustic flavour with the Indian classical tradition
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION (Background Score): Issak Thomas Kottakapally for Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For minimalistic use of appropriate background score to nurture the essence of the narrative.
BEST LYRICS: Vairamuthu for Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For giving a meaningful expression to the narrative through contextual amplification of the emotion.
SPECIAL JURY AWARD: Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)
Producer: Bindiya and Sachin Khanolkar
Director: Anant Narayan Mahadevan
Rajat Kamal and Rs 2,00,000
For a powerful cinematic presentation of an epic journey of a living character, an abandoned woman who refused to become a victim and in the process not only transformed her own life but also the lives of many others.
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS: V Srinivas M Mohan for Enthiran (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For bringing of age a spectrum of visual special effects in Indian cinema and creating a space for the practitioners of this art form on the global map.
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY: Dinesh Kumar for Aadukalam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the native charm and innovative design in the art of choreography that creates an effervescent energy in the spectator.
BEST FEATURE FILM IN EACH OF THE LANGUAGE SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE VIII OF THE CONSTITUTION
BEST ASSAMESE FILM: Jetuka Patar Dare
Producer: Md. Noorul Sultan
Director: Jadumoni Dutta Rajat Kamal
Rs 1,00,000
For a heart-warming portrayal of the rural landscape with an emphasis on the need for self-reliance in the process of development.
BEST BENGALI FILM: Ami Aadu
Producer: New Theatres Pvt. Ltd
Director: Sonmath Gupta Rajat Kamal
Rs 1,00,000
For the subtle portrayal of an endearing love story in the time of cultural conflicts. It is a sincere attempt to present the personal tragedy of the emigrant commoner caught in the crossfire of international wars.
BEST HINDI FILM: Do Dooni Char
Producer: Arindam Chaudhuri
Director: Habib Faisal
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
Each For an entertaining narrative that brings to the fore the struggle of a school teacher who is torn between maintaining his integrity and the lure of a little more comfort.
BEST KANNADA FILM: Puttakkana Highway
Producer: Shylaja Nag and Prakash Raj
Director: B Suresha
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
For a persuasive articulation of a topical social issue where in the name of development, land is appropriated and people are displaced as a consequence.
BEST MALAYALAM FILM: Veettilekkulla Vazhi
Producer: BC Joshi
Director: Dr Biju
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
For narrating the story of a doctor who overcomes personal loss to journey through an unfamiliar landscape to fulfil a promise to a dying mother and in the process finds a personal salvation.
BEST MARATHI FILM: Mala Aai Vhhaychay
Producer: Samruddhi Porey
Director: Samruddhi Porey
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
For an emotional presentation of the story of a surrogate mother who is torn between love and sacrifice for the child.
BEST TAMIL FILM: Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru
Producer: Shibu Isaac
Director: Seenu Ramasamy
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
Each For an emotive articulation of the combative spirit of a mother for whom her son’s happiness is paramount.
BEST ENGLISH FILM: Memories in March
Producer: Shrikant Mohta
Director: Sanjoy Nag
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
For the effective exploration of a bereaved mother’s coming to terms with the fact of her son’s sexual identity.
SPECIAL MENTION: Bettada Jeeva (Kannada)
Late Shivaram Karanth
Certificate only
For an industry that has steadfastly refused to acknowledge and reward its creative fountainhead – the creator of its stories – the citation acknowledges a literary giant, the late Dr. Shivaram Karanth. The citation also acknowledges his valuable association with the world of Indian cinema.
SPECIAL MENTION: Aadukalam (Tamil)
VIS Jayaraman
Certificate only
With a face carved out of teak and leather, the patriarch of a cock-fighting clan stands like a colossus, even when he feels his power and authority ebbing through his fingers.
NON-FEATURE FILMS
BEST NON-FEATURE FILM: Germ (Hindi)
Producer: Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata
Director: Snehal R Nair
Swarna Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
Through abstract visualization and endearing black & white tones, the film depicts the human existence, afflicted by cancer, in a very sublime and somber tone. Along with the perception and growth, from child to youth and by the curious collection of thrown passport photographs, the film maker presents the changing perspective of the vision of the modern growing world in a very engaging manner.
BEST DEBUT NON-FEATURE FILM OF A DIRECTOR: Pistulya (Marathi & Telugu)
Producer: Nagraj Manjule
Director: Nagraj Manjule
Rajat Kamal Rs 75,000
It is a delightful exposition of the poignant life of a poverty-stricken child, who nurtures a dream of embracing the source of learning through education, with simplicity and fluency. The director portrays the spirit of adventure of the child, through fine performances.
BEST ETHNOGRAPHIC FILM: Songs of Mashangva (Tangkhul, Manipuri & English)
Producer: Oinam Doren
Director: Oinam Doren
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
An insightful foray into the complex and layered life of a ‘song’ and all that it carries within it for a community. It inquires into the shared critical history of a community in the specific context of an overarching missionary presence and how it has affected their lives. The jury appreciates it for the courageous, yet poetic exploration of the subject from the ethnographic perspective.
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL FILM: Nilamadhaba (English)
Producer: Films Division
Director: Dilip Patnaik
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
An intimate portrayal of the inimitable Sunanda Pattanaik, whose life is inseparable from contemporary Indian classical music. The film explores the inner spirit of the artist through evocative moments, pregnant with visual passages.
BEST ARTS AND CULTURE FILM: Leaving Home (English & Hindi)
Producer: Jaideep Varma
Director: Jaideep Varma
Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000
It is an emotive and enthralling exposition of the passion and dedication of a group, bound by the spirit of music, who transcend the commercial boundary to embrace their original creative flair. Without compromising, the group led to the adventure with courage and guts. The film maker has journeyed through this adventure with dramatic sensibility and compassion.
BEST SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FILM: Heart to Heart (Manipuri & English)
Producer: Rotary Club of Imphal
Director: Bachaspatimayum Sunzu
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
A very well constructed reality with an engaging dramatic sensibility, that depicts the grimness of natural health maladies. It guides the viewer through emotions and playful spirit of the child. With the help of medical science, it enlightens the viewer with awareness of Congenital Heart Defect and its promising treatment.
BEST PROMOTIONAL FILM: Ek Ropa Dhan (Hindi)
Producer: Meghnath Bhattacharjee
Director: Biju Toppo and Meghnath Bhattacharjee
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
A succinct and well researched film looking closely at an innovation applied effectively in the farming of rice. The film engages successfully with the issue and makes a strong case for the promotion of the practice called Ek Ropa Dhan.
BEST ENVIRONMENT FILM: Iron is Hot (English)
Producer: Meghnath Bhattacharjee
Director: Biju Toppo and Meghnath Bhattacharjee
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
The film is well documented with a forthright exposition of the grievous impact of pollution due to sponge iron industry on the inhabitants dwelling around that area. With clarity and veracity, the film maker is able to express empathy and concern on the acute prevailing problem over human existence.
BEST FILM ON SOCIAL ISSUES: Understanding Trafficking (Bengali, Hindi & English)
Producer: Cinemawoman
Director: Ananya Chakraborti
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
To cross the line of limit, becomes an issue of indifference. Along this line, the documentary projects the serious social issue of human trafficking in a very thought provoking manner through stark and gravitating images. It airs an intriguing atmosphere of concerns through dramatised and realistic imageries.
BEST EDUCATIONAL FILM: Advaitham (Telugu)
Producer: K Vijaypal Reddy
Director: Pradeep Maadugula
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
The documentary exposes the human apathy of class difference through casteism in a very evoking and natural style. Through fun-filled situations and distressing moments, the director portrays the anguished and tragic aspects of casteism effecting human value and relationship.
BEST FILM ON SPORTS: Boxing Ladies (Hindi)
Producer: Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata
Director: Anusha Nandakumar
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
A sensitive portrayal of young aspiring talents in a country where sports as passion/ profession comes up against heavy social odds and family biases. The jury applauds the film for the restrained and elevating treatment of a crucial subject underlining the silent dignity of the characters involved.
BEST INVESTIGATIVE FILM: A Pestering Journey (Malayalam, Punjabi, Hindi, English & Tulu)
Producer: Ranjini Krishnan
Director: KR Manoj
Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000
The pet detective in a reverse act, an emotive documentary exposing not only stories of cruel impact of pest control on human health but also arrests out attention to a more fundamental question – who is a pest?
SPECIAL JURY AWARD: Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein (Hindi)
Producer: Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology, Bangalore
Director: Shabnam Virmani
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
An insightful film that introduces us to the various cults that have grown around Kabir, the mystic weaver and saint. It explores the nuances of India’s argumentative tradition as exemplified by Kabir’s dohas and traces the eventful journey of one man caught in an Orwellion dilemma as he is elevated to the status of a cult leader, torn between the inevitable trappings of hierarchy that run paradoxical to the simple philosophy of Kabir.
SHORT FICTION FILM: Kal 15 August Dukan Band Rahegi (Hindi)
Producer: Film & Television Institute of India, Pune
Director: Prateek Vats
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
With energy and vigour, the documentary records very interesting images of a group of young students, who are trying to relate, with ideology of freedom and the stifling authoritarian reality. In the process, the life is entangled with intrigues and doubts.
BEST FILM ON FAMILY VALUES: Love in India (Bengali & English)
Producer: Overdose
Director: Kaushik Mukherjee
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
Explores and deconstructs the traditional and orthodox landscapes of love, sexuality and conjugal relationships and the dynamics of emerging sexual politics and value systems in contemporary India with clarity and insight laced with subtle humour.
BEST DIRECTION: Shyam Raat Seher (Hindi & Engish)
Director: Arunima Sharma
Swarna Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
Intelligent articulation of a shared urban angst in a powerful cinematic style and well constructed mise-en-scene. The maturity of the director is reflected in the balanced approach to all the elements that blend to create an impression in the viewers mind.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Shyam Raat Seher (Hindi & English)
Cameraman: Murali G
Laboratory: Film Lab
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
Imaginative yet minimal, a balanced and evocative cinematography creates a character out of a city night atmosphere, setting the space and mood for the living characters in their journey beyond the real, nearing mythical.
BEST AUDIOGRAPHY: Harikumar Madhavan Nair (Re-recordist – final mixed track) for A Pestering Journey (Malayalam, Punjabi, Hindi English and Tulu)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
Does one hear the cry of the pest? In between the sound of the real and evoking music, the ensuing silence tells us the stories beyond.
BEST EDITING: Tinni Mitra for Germ (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
The abstract visualization and endearing black &white tones are very effectively punctuated with fine editing, and in the process it maintains a very subtle and flowing rhythm and pace to carry forward the cinematic work.
BEST NARRATION: (for Writing the Narration): Nilanjan Bhattacharya for Johar: Welcome to Our World (Hindi and English)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
A seamless powerful narrative about the symbiotic intricate relationship, the tribals of Jharkhand have with their forests and their struggle for existence against mindless aggressive development and flawed conservation policies, told with empathy and sincerity.
SPECIAL MENTION: Ottayal (One Woman Alone) (Malayalam)
Director: Shiny Jacob Benjamin
It is a heart warming portrayal of the woman Dayabai, who trades along a challenging path in quest of truth. The director, delves into the spirit of the woman to understand the theology of liberation, with sincerity and intelligence
SPECIAL MENTION: The Zeliangrongs (Manipuri & English)
Director: Ronel Haobam
It is a well researched endeavour to reflect a composite group of ethnic communities of common origin and socio-cultural back-ground, which highlights the rich cultural heritage and the tribes’ traditional way of life, which is on the brink of extinction.
SPECIAL MENTION: Pistulya (Marathi & Telugu)
Child Artist: Suraj Pawar
Under distressing situation and harsh reality, Pistulya, the child protagonist, displays the authenticity with vibrant and emotive expression.
BEST WRITING ON CINEMA
BEST BOOK ON CINEMA: From Rajahs and Yogis to Gandhi and Beyond: Images of India in International Films of the Twentieth Century (English) Publisher: Seagull Books
Author: Vijaya Mulay
Swarna Kamal and Rs 75,000
Here is a work of rigorous film scholarship which took the author to many lands and consumed many years of her life. Written in a clear lucid style, the book evokes a panoramic view of India that perhaps was through the eyes of several filmmakers of foreign origin. What adds an extra dimension to the book is the author’s narration of her own life in films even as she is engaged in telling the larger events on and off screen.
SPECIAL MENTION: Cinema Bhojpuri (English)
Publisher: Penguin Books India Ltd
Author: Avijit Ghosh
Certificate
Often dismissed as a poor cousin of mainstream Hindi cinema, Bhojpuri cinema, however has many interesting cultural strains that Avijit Ghosh has laid bare. Any one conversant with life in North Bihar and East Uttar Pradesh, or in many lands far beyond, would recognize the importance of this ‘subaltern’ effort.
SPECIAL MENTION: Thiraicheelai (Tamil)
Publisher: Trisakti Sundar Raman
Author: Oviyar Jeeva Certificate
This book is a sincere attempt to analyse important developments in Tamil films. It also provides an insight into the classics of world cinema, highlighting their aesthetic values.
BEST FILM CRITIC: Joshy Joseph (English)
Swarna Kamal and Rs 37,500
Joshy Joseph, essentially a filmmaker, proves to be an important critic as well, as he goes about writing on the most serious aspects of medium with wry humour and a lightness of touch that is difficult not to notice. His commitment to the documentary in particular sets him apart from many of those writing on cinema in this country.
BEST FILM CRITIC: N Manu Chakravarthy (Kannada & English)
Swarna Kamal and Rs 37,500
Professor Chakravarthy’s writings on film and related arts are replete with profound insights into the human condition as well as the need for serious discourse on socio-cultural matters. His writings reveal the authority with which he can discuss the cinemas of the world, particularly his own Kannada cinema.
BEST FEATURE FILM: Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)
Producer: Salim Ahamed
Director: Salim Ahamed
Swarna Kamal and Rs 2,50,000
For a simple yet evocative articulation of humanist values that frees matters of faith from the constrictions of narrow parochialism. The concerns of Abu, son of Adam, are timeless and universal in their scope.
INDIRA GANDHI AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT FILM OF A DIRECTOR: Baboo Band Baaja (Marathi)
Producer: Nita Jadhav
Director: Rajesh Pinjani
Swarna Kamal and Rs 1,25,000
For a riveting tale of a father reluctant to educate his son, a mother who fiercely believes in its liberatory value, and the son who is caught in the crossfire, ‘Baboo’ is an outstanding debut project by director.
AWARD FOR BEST POPULAR FILM PROVIDING WHOLESOME ENTERTAINMENT: Dabangg (Hindi)
Producer: Arbaaz Khan, Malaika Arora Khan and Dhilin Mehta
Director: Abhinav Singh Kashyap
Swarna Kamal and Rs 2,00,000
Answers the need of cinegoers for entertainment rooted in Indian soil.
NARGIS DUTT AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM ON NATIONAL INTEGRATION: Moner Manush (Bengali)
Producer: Gautam Kundu
Director: Goutam Ghose
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
For celebrating the union of the human spirit through the life and song of Sufi poets in the Baul tradition.
BEST FILM ON SOCIAL ISSUES: Champions (Marathi)
Producer: Aishwarya Narkar
Director: Ramesh More
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
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.
BEST FILM ON ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION/PRESERVATION: Bettada Jeeva (Kannada)
Producer: Basantkumar Patil
Director: P Sheshadri
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
An old couple steeped in the soil of their environment yearn for the return of their son while nurturing the growth of their young plantation against all odds.
BEST CHILDREN’S FILM: Hejjegalu (Kannada)
Producer: Basantkumar Patil
Director: PR Ramadas Naidu
Swarna Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
A little girl cheerfully takes on the challenge to preserve the fabric of her family.
BEST DIRECTION: Vetrimaran for Aadukalam (Tamil)
Swarna Kamal and Rs 2,50,000
For a gritty tale of love, jealousy and betrayal in the midst of bloodsport and violence, in the manner of realistic cinema.
BEST ACTOR: Dhanush for Aadukalam (Tamil) and Salim Kumar for Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
Two riveting performances that fuse character and actor into one: To Dhanush for the raw, nuanced portrayal of a cocky young man who learns lessons about life the hard way. To Salim for a deep, restrained performance of a simple man with an unshakeable belief in his quest for salvation.
BEST ACTRESS: Mitalee Jagtap Varadkar for Baboo Band Baaja (Marathi) and Saranya Ponvannan for Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
The picture of two mothers whose concern for bettering the lives of their children in the face of untold hardship: As a mother who strives to realise through her son her dreams of a better future. As a fiercely combative single mother who shields her son to the point of sacrifice.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: J Thambi Ramaiah for Mynaa (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For a heart-warming performance as a policeman who discovers his humanity in the process of capturing an escaped fugitive.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Sukumari for Namma Gramam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For a sensitive portrayal of an aged widow who challenges orthodoxy when restrictions are placed upon her widowed granddaughter.
BEST CHILD ARTIST: Harsh Mayar for I am Kalam (Hindi), Shantanu Ranganekar and Machindra Gadkar for Champions (Marathi) and Vivek Chabukswar for Baboo Band Baaja (Marathi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000 (Shared)
Four actors for expressing with charm and heartbreak the world of the child: For performing with bright, shining eyes and an urchin smile, the razor sharp spirit of a survivor who dreams of excelling. For two brothers bonded by blood and responsibility battling for survival in the underbelly of a heartless city. For capturing the indomitable spirit of a young village boy who is hungry to learn in an environment that closes all doors on him.
BEST MALE PLAYBACK SINGER: Suresh Wadkar for Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For rendering soulful lyrics in a resonant voice soaked in emotion with a purity of musical expression and spiritual empathy.
BEST FEMALE PLAYBACK SINGER: Rekha Bhardwaj for Ishqiya (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For a sensual and evocative rendering of a heart longing for the beloved.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Madhu Ambat for Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the visual poetry that augments and reinforces the concern of the narrative and for unfolding the infinite vistas of nascent digital technology in the visual medium.
BEST SCREENPLAY: (Original): Vetrimaran for Aadukalam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For its kaleidoscopic variety that uses realism, tradition and contemporaneity, soaked in local flavour on an infinite canvas.
BEST SCREENPLAY: (Adapted): Anant Mahadevan and Sanjay Pawar for Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For retaining the concerns and values of a biographical account while translating it into the cinematic medium and honouring the essence of the original.
BEST SCREENPLAY: (Dialogues): Sanjay Pawar for Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For bringing to life the textures of various characters through articulating their emotion and thought process.
BEST AUDIOGRAPHY: Kaamod Kharade (Location Sound Recordist) for Ishqiya (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For capturing the soft nuances and variations of the artists’ voices and location ambience in a sensorial manner.
BEST AUDIOGRAPHY: Subhadeep Sengupta (Sound Designer) for Chitrasutram (Malayalam)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the use of various sound effects along with existing ambience to impart a subliminal experience in this abstract work.
BEST AUDIOGRAPHY: Debajit Changmai (Re-recordist of the final mixed track) for Ishqiya (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For merging voices, location ambience, background music and other sound effects to create a near-tactile experience that is both real and artistic.
BEST EDITING: TE Kishore for Aadukalam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the subliminal impact created by the use of montage so as to bring to the fore thematic concerns of the narrative in a holistic manner.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: Sabu Cyril for Enthiran (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000
For the style and finesse realised in the creation of a set design that is coherent with the futuristic visual style of the narrative.
BEST COSTUME DESIGNER: Indrans Jayan for Namma Gramam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For realising effectively the texture of a period in the history of modern India through miniscule attention to detailing.
BEST MAKE-UP ARTIST: Vikram Gaikwad for Moner Manush (Bengali)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the admirable detailing and remarkable consistency achieved in the etching of the characters across an extensive time span.
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION (Songs): Vishal Bhardwaj for Ishqiya (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For blending rustic flavour with the Indian classical tradition
BEST MUSIC DIRECTION (Background Score): Issak Thomas Kottakapally for Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For minimalistic use of appropriate background score to nurture the essence of the narrative.
BEST LYRICS: Vairamuthu for Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For giving a meaningful expression to the narrative through contextual amplification of the emotion.
SPECIAL JURY AWARD: Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)
Producer: Bindiya and Sachin Khanolkar
Director: Anant Narayan Mahadevan
Rajat Kamal and Rs 2,00,000
For a powerful cinematic presentation of an epic journey of a living character, an abandoned woman who refused to become a victim and in the process not only transformed her own life but also the lives of many others.
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS: V Srinivas M Mohan for Enthiran (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For bringing of age a spectrum of visual special effects in Indian cinema and creating a space for the practitioners of this art form on the global map.
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY: Dinesh Kumar for Aadukalam (Tamil)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
For the native charm and innovative design in the art of choreography that creates an effervescent energy in the spectator.
BEST FEATURE FILM IN EACH OF THE LANGUAGE SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE VIII OF THE CONSTITUTION
BEST ASSAMESE FILM: Jetuka Patar Dare
Producer: Md. Noorul Sultan
Director: Jadumoni Dutta Rajat Kamal
Rs 1,00,000
For a heart-warming portrayal of the rural landscape with an emphasis on the need for self-reliance in the process of development.
BEST BENGALI FILM: Ami Aadu
Producer: New Theatres Pvt. Ltd
Director: Sonmath Gupta Rajat Kamal
Rs 1,00,000
For the subtle portrayal of an endearing love story in the time of cultural conflicts. It is a sincere attempt to present the personal tragedy of the emigrant commoner caught in the crossfire of international wars.
BEST HINDI FILM: Do Dooni Char
Producer: Arindam Chaudhuri
Director: Habib Faisal
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
Each For an entertaining narrative that brings to the fore the struggle of a school teacher who is torn between maintaining his integrity and the lure of a little more comfort.
BEST KANNADA FILM: Puttakkana Highway
Producer: Shylaja Nag and Prakash Raj
Director: B Suresha
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
For a persuasive articulation of a topical social issue where in the name of development, land is appropriated and people are displaced as a consequence.
BEST MALAYALAM FILM: Veettilekkulla Vazhi
Producer: BC Joshi
Director: Dr Biju
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
For narrating the story of a doctor who overcomes personal loss to journey through an unfamiliar landscape to fulfil a promise to a dying mother and in the process finds a personal salvation.
BEST MARATHI FILM: Mala Aai Vhhaychay
Producer: Samruddhi Porey
Director: Samruddhi Porey
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
For an emotional presentation of the story of a surrogate mother who is torn between love and sacrifice for the child.
BEST TAMIL FILM: Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru
Producer: Shibu Isaac
Director: Seenu Ramasamy
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
Each For an emotive articulation of the combative spirit of a mother for whom her son’s happiness is paramount.
BEST ENGLISH FILM: Memories in March
Producer: Shrikant Mohta
Director: Sanjoy Nag
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
For the effective exploration of a bereaved mother’s coming to terms with the fact of her son’s sexual identity.
SPECIAL MENTION: Bettada Jeeva (Kannada)
Late Shivaram Karanth
Certificate only
For an industry that has steadfastly refused to acknowledge and reward its creative fountainhead – the creator of its stories – the citation acknowledges a literary giant, the late Dr. Shivaram Karanth. The citation also acknowledges his valuable association with the world of Indian cinema.
SPECIAL MENTION: Aadukalam (Tamil)
VIS Jayaraman
Certificate only
With a face carved out of teak and leather, the patriarch of a cock-fighting clan stands like a colossus, even when he feels his power and authority ebbing through his fingers.
NON-FEATURE FILMS
BEST NON-FEATURE FILM: Germ (Hindi)
Producer: Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata
Director: Snehal R Nair
Swarna Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
Through abstract visualization and endearing black & white tones, the film depicts the human existence, afflicted by cancer, in a very sublime and somber tone. Along with the perception and growth, from child to youth and by the curious collection of thrown passport photographs, the film maker presents the changing perspective of the vision of the modern growing world in a very engaging manner.
BEST DEBUT NON-FEATURE FILM OF A DIRECTOR: Pistulya (Marathi & Telugu)
Producer: Nagraj Manjule
Director: Nagraj Manjule
Rajat Kamal Rs 75,000
It is a delightful exposition of the poignant life of a poverty-stricken child, who nurtures a dream of embracing the source of learning through education, with simplicity and fluency. The director portrays the spirit of adventure of the child, through fine performances.
BEST ETHNOGRAPHIC FILM: Songs of Mashangva (Tangkhul, Manipuri & English)
Producer: Oinam Doren
Director: Oinam Doren
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
An insightful foray into the complex and layered life of a ‘song’ and all that it carries within it for a community. It inquires into the shared critical history of a community in the specific context of an overarching missionary presence and how it has affected their lives. The jury appreciates it for the courageous, yet poetic exploration of the subject from the ethnographic perspective.
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL FILM: Nilamadhaba (English)
Producer: Films Division
Director: Dilip Patnaik
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
An intimate portrayal of the inimitable Sunanda Pattanaik, whose life is inseparable from contemporary Indian classical music. The film explores the inner spirit of the artist through evocative moments, pregnant with visual passages.
BEST ARTS AND CULTURE FILM: Leaving Home (English & Hindi)
Producer: Jaideep Varma
Director: Jaideep Varma
Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000
It is an emotive and enthralling exposition of the passion and dedication of a group, bound by the spirit of music, who transcend the commercial boundary to embrace their original creative flair. Without compromising, the group led to the adventure with courage and guts. The film maker has journeyed through this adventure with dramatic sensibility and compassion.
BEST SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FILM: Heart to Heart (Manipuri & English)
Producer: Rotary Club of Imphal
Director: Bachaspatimayum Sunzu
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
A very well constructed reality with an engaging dramatic sensibility, that depicts the grimness of natural health maladies. It guides the viewer through emotions and playful spirit of the child. With the help of medical science, it enlightens the viewer with awareness of Congenital Heart Defect and its promising treatment.
BEST PROMOTIONAL FILM: Ek Ropa Dhan (Hindi)
Producer: Meghnath Bhattacharjee
Director: Biju Toppo and Meghnath Bhattacharjee
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
A succinct and well researched film looking closely at an innovation applied effectively in the farming of rice. The film engages successfully with the issue and makes a strong case for the promotion of the practice called Ek Ropa Dhan.
BEST ENVIRONMENT FILM: Iron is Hot (English)
Producer: Meghnath Bhattacharjee
Director: Biju Toppo and Meghnath Bhattacharjee
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
The film is well documented with a forthright exposition of the grievous impact of pollution due to sponge iron industry on the inhabitants dwelling around that area. With clarity and veracity, the film maker is able to express empathy and concern on the acute prevailing problem over human existence.
BEST FILM ON SOCIAL ISSUES: Understanding Trafficking (Bengali, Hindi & English)
Producer: Cinemawoman
Director: Ananya Chakraborti
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
To cross the line of limit, becomes an issue of indifference. Along this line, the documentary projects the serious social issue of human trafficking in a very thought provoking manner through stark and gravitating images. It airs an intriguing atmosphere of concerns through dramatised and realistic imageries.
BEST EDUCATIONAL FILM: Advaitham (Telugu)
Producer: K Vijaypal Reddy
Director: Pradeep Maadugula
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
The documentary exposes the human apathy of class difference through casteism in a very evoking and natural style. Through fun-filled situations and distressing moments, the director portrays the anguished and tragic aspects of casteism effecting human value and relationship.
BEST FILM ON SPORTS: Boxing Ladies (Hindi)
Producer: Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata
Director: Anusha Nandakumar
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
A sensitive portrayal of young aspiring talents in a country where sports as passion/ profession comes up against heavy social odds and family biases. The jury applauds the film for the restrained and elevating treatment of a crucial subject underlining the silent dignity of the characters involved.
BEST INVESTIGATIVE FILM: A Pestering Journey (Malayalam, Punjabi, Hindi, English & Tulu)
Producer: Ranjini Krishnan
Director: KR Manoj
Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000
The pet detective in a reverse act, an emotive documentary exposing not only stories of cruel impact of pest control on human health but also arrests out attention to a more fundamental question – who is a pest?
SPECIAL JURY AWARD: Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein (Hindi)
Producer: Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology, Bangalore
Director: Shabnam Virmani
Rajat Kamal and Rs 1,00,000
An insightful film that introduces us to the various cults that have grown around Kabir, the mystic weaver and saint. It explores the nuances of India’s argumentative tradition as exemplified by Kabir’s dohas and traces the eventful journey of one man caught in an Orwellion dilemma as he is elevated to the status of a cult leader, torn between the inevitable trappings of hierarchy that run paradoxical to the simple philosophy of Kabir.
SHORT FICTION FILM: Kal 15 August Dukan Band Rahegi (Hindi)
Producer: Film & Television Institute of India, Pune
Director: Prateek Vats
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
With energy and vigour, the documentary records very interesting images of a group of young students, who are trying to relate, with ideology of freedom and the stifling authoritarian reality. In the process, the life is entangled with intrigues and doubts.
BEST FILM ON FAMILY VALUES: Love in India (Bengali & English)
Producer: Overdose
Director: Kaushik Mukherjee
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
Explores and deconstructs the traditional and orthodox landscapes of love, sexuality and conjugal relationships and the dynamics of emerging sexual politics and value systems in contemporary India with clarity and insight laced with subtle humour.
BEST DIRECTION: Shyam Raat Seher (Hindi & Engish)
Director: Arunima Sharma
Swarna Kamal and Rs 1,50,000
Intelligent articulation of a shared urban angst in a powerful cinematic style and well constructed mise-en-scene. The maturity of the director is reflected in the balanced approach to all the elements that blend to create an impression in the viewers mind.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Shyam Raat Seher (Hindi & English)
Cameraman: Murali G
Laboratory: Film Lab
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
Imaginative yet minimal, a balanced and evocative cinematography creates a character out of a city night atmosphere, setting the space and mood for the living characters in their journey beyond the real, nearing mythical.
BEST AUDIOGRAPHY: Harikumar Madhavan Nair (Re-recordist – final mixed track) for A Pestering Journey (Malayalam, Punjabi, Hindi English and Tulu)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
Does one hear the cry of the pest? In between the sound of the real and evoking music, the ensuing silence tells us the stories beyond.
BEST EDITING: Tinni Mitra for Germ (Hindi)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
The abstract visualization and endearing black &white tones are very effectively punctuated with fine editing, and in the process it maintains a very subtle and flowing rhythm and pace to carry forward the cinematic work.
BEST NARRATION: (for Writing the Narration): Nilanjan Bhattacharya for Johar: Welcome to Our World (Hindi and English)
Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000
A seamless powerful narrative about the symbiotic intricate relationship, the tribals of Jharkhand have with their forests and their struggle for existence against mindless aggressive development and flawed conservation policies, told with empathy and sincerity.
SPECIAL MENTION: Ottayal (One Woman Alone) (Malayalam)
Director: Shiny Jacob Benjamin
It is a heart warming portrayal of the woman Dayabai, who trades along a challenging path in quest of truth. The director, delves into the spirit of the woman to understand the theology of liberation, with sincerity and intelligence
SPECIAL MENTION: The Zeliangrongs (Manipuri & English)
Director: Ronel Haobam
It is a well researched endeavour to reflect a composite group of ethnic communities of common origin and socio-cultural back-ground, which highlights the rich cultural heritage and the tribes’ traditional way of life, which is on the brink of extinction.
SPECIAL MENTION: Pistulya (Marathi & Telugu)
Child Artist: Suraj Pawar
Under distressing situation and harsh reality, Pistulya, the child protagonist, displays the authenticity with vibrant and emotive expression.
BEST WRITING ON CINEMA
BEST BOOK ON CINEMA: From Rajahs and Yogis to Gandhi and Beyond: Images of India in International Films of the Twentieth Century (English) Publisher: Seagull Books
Author: Vijaya Mulay
Swarna Kamal and Rs 75,000
Here is a work of rigorous film scholarship which took the author to many lands and consumed many years of her life. Written in a clear lucid style, the book evokes a panoramic view of India that perhaps was through the eyes of several filmmakers of foreign origin. What adds an extra dimension to the book is the author’s narration of her own life in films even as she is engaged in telling the larger events on and off screen.
SPECIAL MENTION: Cinema Bhojpuri (English)
Publisher: Penguin Books India Ltd
Author: Avijit Ghosh
Certificate
Often dismissed as a poor cousin of mainstream Hindi cinema, Bhojpuri cinema, however has many interesting cultural strains that Avijit Ghosh has laid bare. Any one conversant with life in North Bihar and East Uttar Pradesh, or in many lands far beyond, would recognize the importance of this ‘subaltern’ effort.
SPECIAL MENTION: Thiraicheelai (Tamil)
Publisher: Trisakti Sundar Raman
Author: Oviyar Jeeva Certificate
This book is a sincere attempt to analyse important developments in Tamil films. It also provides an insight into the classics of world cinema, highlighting their aesthetic values.
BEST FILM CRITIC: Joshy Joseph (English)
Swarna Kamal and Rs 37,500
Joshy Joseph, essentially a filmmaker, proves to be an important critic as well, as he goes about writing on the most serious aspects of medium with wry humour and a lightness of touch that is difficult not to notice. His commitment to the documentary in particular sets him apart from many of those writing on cinema in this country.
BEST FILM CRITIC: N Manu Chakravarthy (Kannada & English)
Swarna Kamal and Rs 37,500
Professor Chakravarthy’s writings on film and related arts are replete with profound insights into the human condition as well as the need for serious discourse on socio-cultural matters. His writings reveal the authority with which he can discuss the cinemas of the world, particularly his own Kannada cinema.
58th National Film Awards Gallery
58th National Film Awards Photo Gallery
