The 54th National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 2006.
Three different committees were instituted in order to judge the various entries for feature film, non-feature film and best writing on cinema sections; headed by National award winner director, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, for feature films and K. Bikram Singh along with Madhu Jain for Non-feature films and best writing on cinema sections, respectively.
Each chairperson announced the award on 10 June 2008 for their respective sections and award ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi with President of India, Pratibha Patil giving away the awards on 2 September 2008.
Awards
Awards were divided into feature films, non-feature films and books written on Indian cinema.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Name of AwardImageAwardee(s)Awarded AsAwardsDadasaheb Phalke AwardTapan SinhaDirectorSwarna Kamal, 10,00,000 and a shawl
Along with Dadasaheb Phalke Award, another one special lifetime achievement award was also given to commemorate the 60th year of Indian Independence. Award was given to veteran actors, Dilip Kumar and B. Saroja Devi along with Lata Mangeshkar. Incidentally, Lata Mangeshkar and Dilip Kumar were already awarded with Dadasaheb Phalke Award for their contribution to Indian cinema at the 37th and 42nd National Film Awards respectively.
Name of AwardAwardee(s)Awarded AsAwardsSpecial Lifetime Achievement AwardDilip KumarActor 10,00,000 and a shawl eachLata MangeshkarPlayback singerB. Saroja DeviActress
Feature films
Films made in any Indian language shot on 16 mm, 35 mm or in a wider gauge or digital format but released on a film format or video/digital but certified by the Central Board of Film Certification as a feature film or featurette are eligible for Feature Film section.
Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 54th National Film Awards, a Malayalam film, Pulijanmam won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film; whereas a Konkani film, Antarnad along with a Hindi film, Lage Raho Munna Bhai and a Punjab film, Waris Shah: Ishq Daa Waaris won the maximum number of awards (4). Following were the awards given in each category:
Juries
A committee headed by Buddhadeb Dasgupta was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
Jury Members Buddhadeb Dasgupta (Chairperson)Rahul DholakiaP. SheshadriRatnottama SenguptaSekhar DasSiva Shankari Sharada RamanathanHari KumarN. Krishna Kumar (Unni)Himanshu KhatuaMeenakshi SheddeSharad DuttAshok Rane
All India Award
Following were the awards given:
Golden Lotus Award
Official Name: Swarna Kamal
All the awardees are awarded with 'Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal)', a certificate and cash prize.
Name of AwardName of FilmLanguageAwardee(s)Cash prizeBest Feature FilmPulijanmamMalayalamProducer: M. G. VijayDirector: Priyanandanan 2,50,000/- EachCitation: For a layered film that uses metaphors to address global and local issues of contemporary society.Best Debut Film of A DirectorEakanthamMalayalamProducer: Anthony JosephDirector: Madhu Kaithapram 62,500/- EachCitation: For sensitively portraying the solitude of two ageing brothers who have lost everyone around them.Kabul ExpressHindiProducer: Aditya ChopraDirector: Kabir KhanCitation: For capturing, through the journey of two Indian journalists, the collapse of Taliban in post 9/11 Afghanistan.Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome EntertainmentLage Raho Munna BhaiHindiProducer: Vidhu Vinod ChopraDirector: Rajkumar Hirani 2,00,000/- EachCitation: For revalidating the philosophy of non-violence in a strife-torn world and helping rediscover the Gandhi within the common man.Best Children's FilmCare of FootpathKannadaProducer: Shylaja ShrikanthDirector: Kishan Shrikanth 1,50,000/- EachCitation: For articulating the burning desire for education in a slumdweller. The issue is particularly relevant, as the film is directed by a nine-year-old boy.Best Animated FilmKittuTeluguProducer: Bhargava KodavantiDirector: B. Sathya 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For film made with characters and concerns that reflect the Indian ethos in a format so far identified with the West.Best DirectionTraffic SignalHindiMadhur Bhandarkar 2,50,000/-Citation: For weaving in the lives, livelihoods and concerns of the street dwellers in a metro and the inspiring stand that makes the protagonist a role model across society.
Silver Lotus Award
Official Name: Rajat Kamal
All the awardees are awarded with 'Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal)', a certificate and cash prize.
Name of AwardName of FilmLanguageAwardee(s)Cash prizeBest Feature Film on National IntegrationKallarali HoovagiKannadaProducer: S. Madhu BangarappaDirector: T. S. Nagabharana 1,50,000/- EachCitation: For depicting the sanctity of loyalty to one's land and amity through a love story set in the times of Hyder Ali.Best Film on Family WelfareKarutha PakshikalMalayalamProducer: Kaladharan K. V. and Vallabhan K. G.Director: Kamal 75,000/- EachCitation: For redefining family values in the slums of a city through the life of a man who irons clothes for a living.FaltuBengaliProducer: Arindam ChaudhuriDirector: Anjan DasCitation: For delineating the need for family through the predicament of an illegitimate child.Best Film on Other Social IssuesHopeTeluguProducer: Policherla Venkata SubbiahDirector: Satish Kasetty 1,50,000/- EachCitation: For focusing on the need to re-examine the present-day education system that leads many young people to commit suicide.Best ActorPodokkhepBengaliSoumitra Chatterjee 50,000/-Citation: For etching the agonies and elations of an elderly person trying to keep peace with changing times.Best ActressParuthiveeranTamilPriyamani 50,000/-Citation: For portraying the ferocity of love in a firebrand village girl.Best Supporting ActorLage Raho Munna BhaiShevriHindiMarathiDilip Prabhavalkar 50,000/-Citation: For the sincere portrayal of a wide range of emotions of two divergent and equally challenging characters of Gandhi in Lage Raho Munna Bhai and a benign middle-class clerk in Shevri.Best Supporting ActressOmkaraHindiKonkona Sen Sharma 50,000/-Citation: For the textured characterisation of a village woman trying to bring sanity in the violent lives of a political family in Uttar Pradesh.Best Child ArtistAntarnadKonkaniDivya Chaphadkar 50,000/-Citation: For evoking the complex emotions of a talented child overshadowed by a celebrity mother.Best Male Playback SingerWaris Shah: Ishq Daa WaarisPunjabiGurdas Maan 50,000/-Citation: For building the entire narrative through his singing of Heer.Best Female Playback SingerAntarnadKonkaniArati Ankalikar-Tikekar 50,000/-Citation: For the sonorous rendering that gives conviction to the central character of a classical vocalist.Best CinematographyYatraHindiCameraman: Gautam GhoseLaboratory Processing: Rainbow Colour Lab 50,000/- EachCitation: For creating evocative moods and capturing the nuances of a feudal system changing to modern times.Best ScreenplayLage Raho Munna BhaiHindiAbhijat JoshiRajkumar Hirani Vidhu Vinod Chopra 50,000/-Citation: For the original vision with which Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence is given life in popular parlance.Best AudiographyOmkaraHindiShajith KoyeriSubhash SahooK. J. Singh 50,000/-Citation: For the brilliant sound design that enhances the moods and emotions through different layers of sound in the film.Best EditingParuthiveeranTamilRaja Mohammad 50,000/-Citation: For innovative editing that enhanced the director's vision to fashion a powerful film.Best Art DirectionWaris Shah: Ishq Daa WaarisPunjabiRashid Rangrez 50,000/-Citation: For the authentic recreation of a historic and culturally rich era.Best Costume DesignWaris Shah: Ishq Daa WaarisPunjabiManjeet Maan 50,000/-Citation: For accurate and convincing costumes, reflecting the socio-cultural fabric of a historic era.Best Make-up ArtistTraffic SignalHindiAnil Motiram Palande 50,000/-Citation: For subtle and convincing make-up for a wide range of characters.Best Music DirectionAntarnadKonkaniAshok Patki 50,000/-Citation: For a judicious range of music from the classical to pop, elevating the film.Best LyricsLage Raho Munna BhaiHindiSwanand Kirkire 50,000/-Citation: For rousing words that lyrically combine tradition with modernity to reach the masses.Best Special EffectsKrrishHindiEFX, Chennai 50,000/-Citation: For impressive effects and technical finesse that enhances the magical quality of the film.Best ChoreographyRathri MazhaMalayalamMadhu SamudraSajeev Samudra 50,000/-Citation: For choreography that displays modern and innovative aesthetics in rhythm and movement.Special Jury AwardOmkaraHindiVishal Bhardwaj (Director) 1,25,000/-Citation: For an outstanding film that synergises international treatment with an earthy, rooted sensibility.Special MentionEakanthamMalayalamThilakan (Actor)Certificate OnlyCitation: For his evocative portrayal of a man ageing with grace and dignity.DosarBengaliProsenjit Chatterjee (Actor)Citation: For his effective portrayal of a man, emotionally expressive despite his physical immobility.
Regional Awards
The award is given to best film in the regional languages in India.
Name of AwardName of FilmAwardee(s)Cash prizeBest Feature Film in AssameseAideuProducer: Nabomika BorthakurDirector: Arup Manna 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For highlighting a lesser known, pioneering heroine of Indian cinema.Best Feature Film in BengaliAnurananProducer: Jeet Banerjee, Indrani Mukerjee, Aniruddha Roy ChowdhuryDirector: Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury 50,000/- EachCitation: For sensitively exploring nuances in relationships.PodokkhepProducer: Nitesh SharmaDirector: Suman GhoshCitation: For a convincing depiction of an old man coping with loneliness.Best Feature Film in HindiKhosla Ka GhoslaProducer: Savita Raj HiremathDirector: Dibakar Banerjee 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For an original portraying the middle class struggle against the real estate mafia.Best Feature Film in KannadaKaada BeladingaluProducer: K. M. Veeresh, K. N. Siddalingaiah and B. S. LingadevaruDirector: B. S. Lingadevaru 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For highlighting the impact of youth migration and media opportunism on the older generation.Best Feature Film in KonkaniAntarnadProducer: Rajendra Talak CreationsDirector: Rajendra Talak 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For a sensitive portrayal of an artist and her conflicting relationship with her daughter.Best Feature Film in MalayalamDrishtanthamProducer: M. P. Sukumaran NairDirector: M. P. Sukumaran Nair 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For a powerful tribute to the co modification of ancient tradition.Best Feature Film in MarathiShevriProducer: Neena KulkarniDirector: Gajendra Ahire 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For an empathetic portrayal of the struggles of middle class married woman estranged from her family.Best Feature Film in OdiaPuja Pain PhulatieProducer: Padmini PutyDirector: Gadadhar Puty 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For an emotional portrayal of the bonding and generosity of children.Best Feature Film in PunjabiWaris Shah: Ishq Daa WaarisProducer: Sai ProductionsDirector: Manoj Punj 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For an evocative portrayal of the rich, musical Sufi tradition.Best Feature Film in TamilVeyilProducer: S. ShankarDirector: Vasanthabalan 1,00,000/- EachCitation: For a moving portrayal of sibling bonding in a turbulent family.Best Feature Film in TeluguKamliProducer: B. C. Hari Charana Prasad and P. V. SukanyaDirector: K. N. T. Sastry 1.00,000/- EachCitation: For a convincing portrayal of the courage of a disadvantaged woman in her fight against female foeticide and child swapping.
Best Feature Film in Each of the Language Other Than Those Specified In the Schedule VIII of the Constitution