The 39th National Film Awards were presented by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 1991, with the ceremony taking place in 1992.
With the 39th National Film Awards, two new awards were introduced for the feature films section. These awards include the National Film Award for Best Special Effects and the National Film Award for Best Choreography and were awarded with Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus). These two newly introduced awards were not given for 39th National Film Awards as no films/entries were found to be suitable.
Also, the National Film Award for Best Writing on Cinema and the National Film Award for Best Film Critic, which were until then awarded with Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus), were awarded with Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus).
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 AwardBhalji PendharkarFilm director, Film producer and screenwriterSwarna Kamal, and a Shawl
Feature films
Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 39th National Film Awards, a Bengali film, Agantuk won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film also winning the maximum number of awards (3) along with a Malayalam film, Bharatham and a Hindi film, Dharavi. Following were the awards given in each category:
Juries
A committee headed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
Jury Members Adoor Gopalakrishnan (Chairperson)Aamir Raza HusainAshish SarafFirooze RangoonwalaGummadiHema ChaudharyR. LakshmanLalitha RaveeNabyendu ChatterjeeNityananda SamntarayP. MadhavanPrafulla SaikiaP. R. S. PillayRaja MitraSreekumaran ThampiUrvashi TalwarVinod Nagpal
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 FilmAgantukBengaliProducer: NFDC 50,000/-director: Satyajit Ray 25,000/-Citation: For its masterly treatment of an unusual subject investing it with humour, suspense and drama accomplishing remarkable insight into human behaviour.Best DirectionAgantukBengaliSatyajit Ray 50,000/-Citation: For the outstanding craftsmanship and the command over the language of cinema he employed in creating a remarkable cinematic experience.Best Debut Film of a DirectorHaladharAssameseProducer: Geeti Barua and Dwijen HazorikaDirector: Sanjeev Hazorika 25,000/- EachCitation: For its freshness of approach, the subtlety of its pervasive humour and the courage shown in choosing to build a film around a plough.Best Children's FilmAbhayamMalayalamProducer: Children's Film Society 30,000/-Director: Sivan 15,000/-Citation: For its outstanding qualities as a film that entertains children and adults alike.
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 prizeSecond Best Feature FilmFiringotiAssameseProducer: Sailadhar Baruah and Jahnu Barua 30,000/-Director: Jahnu Barua 15,000/-Citation: For its artistic excellence and for the effective use of the medium for portraying a theme of immense social relevance.Best ScreenplayKadavuMalayalamM. T. Vasudevan Nair 10,000/-Citation: For its sensitive and poetic treatment of disillusionment of an underprivileged adolescent.Best CinematographyAadi MimansaOriyaCameraman: Apurba Kishore BirLaboratory Processing: Prasad Film Laboratories 10,000/- EachCitation: For achieving high degree of accomplishment in painting the film with light, imparting a sensuous quality to the texture and feel of the film.Best AudiographyRukmavati Ki HaveliHindiAjay MunjalA. M. Padmanabhan 10,000/-Citation: For the quality and effectiveness of sound in contributing to the ambience of stark oppression that pervades the film.Best EditingDharaviHindiRenu Saluja 10,000/-Citation: For achieving right timing and rhythm, with the dexterous juxtaposition of sound and visuals.Best Art DirectionRukmavati Ki HaveliHindiSamir Chanda 10,000/-Citation: For creating an authentic and real setting, matching the mood and manner of the film.Best Music DirectionDharaviHindiRajat Dholakia 10,000/-Citation: For using music as an integral part of the film structure, furthering the meaning and dimensions of the theme.Best Costume DesignLamheHindiNeeta LullaKachins Leena Daru 10,000/-Citation: For faithfully recreating the colour, variety and richness of the dresses worn in Rajasthan.Best ActorBharathamMalayalamMohanlal 10,000/-Citation: For his range as an actor as well as the restraint he applied in the portrayal of the much misunderstood musician.Best ActressFiringotiAssameseMoloya Goswami 10,000/-Citation: For the subtle and natural portral of a teacher who overcomes the trauma of her personal life and dedicates herself to the pursuit of a noble mission.Best Supporting ActorYagnamTeluguP. L. Narayana 10,000/-Citation: For convincing portrayal of the oppressed farmer.Best Supporting ActressYamanamMalayalamSantha Devi 10,000/-Citation: For her work in the film, who lives the role of the understanding and tormented mother.Best Child ArtistBhadram KodukoTeluguSanthosh Reddy 5,000/-Citation: For giving a natural performance of a street-smart child.Best Male Playback SingerBharathamMalayalamK. J. Yesudas 10,000/-Citation: For the mellifluous and masterful rendering of songs in the classical style.Best Female Playback SingerSwathi KiranamTeluguVani Jairam 10,000/-Citation: For the texture and clarity of her voice, which enlivened the classical song sung for the child prodigy.Best LyricsMysooru MalligeKannadaK. S. Narasimhaswamy 10,000/-Citation: For the depth and poetic quality of the lyrics.Best Feature Film on National IntegrationAadi MimansaOriyaProducer: Apurba Kishore Bir 30,000/-Director: Apurba Kishore Bir 15,000/-Citation: For its strong appeal for integration and upholding of human values brought about through a remarkbly understated treatment of incidents from everyday life.Best Film on Family WelfareDurgaHindiProducer: NFDC 30,000/-Director: Basu Chatterjee 15,000/-Citation: For the skilful way in which the message of small family norm is communicated.Best Film on Other Social IssuesYamanamMalayalamProducer: Ajayan Varicolil 30,000/-Director: Bharath Gopi 15,000/-Citation: 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.Special Jury AwardAntardhanBengaliSoumitra Chatterjee (Actor) 10,000/-Citation: For his outstanding screen performances, especially in the films of Satyajit Ray.Special MentionAgantukBengaliMamata Shankar (Actress)Certificate OnlyCitation: For her performance as the housewife.BharathamMalayalamRaveendran (Music director)Citation: For the quality of music composed for the song.
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 AssameseSarothiProducer: Bhabendra Nath Saikia 20,000/-Director: Bhabendra Nath Saikia 10,000/-Citation: For the suggestive and sympathetic portrayal of the breadwinner of a middle-class family who stands alone and isolated even in his own home.Best Feature Film in BengaliAntardhanProducer: Nabakumar Chandra, Swapan Kumar Mitra and Sucheta Mitra 20,000/-Director: Tapan Sinha 10,000/-Citation: For the manner in which the suspense is built and sustained throughout the film.Best Feature Film in HindiDikshaProducer: NFDC and Doordarshan 20,000/-Director: Arun Kaul 10,000/-Citation: For the impressive treatment of a relevant social theme.DharaviProducer: NFDC and Doordarshan 20,000/-Director: Sudhir Mishra 10,000/-Citation: For its affirmation of the indefatigable human spirit of survival.Best Feature Film in KannadaMysooru MalligeProducer: Srihari L. Khode 20,000/-Director: T. S. Nagabharana 10,000/-Citation: For the bold attempt in conceiving and structuring a film stringing together poems written by the Kannada poet K. S. Narasimhaswamy.Best Feature Film in MalayalamKadavuProducer: M. T. Vasudevan Nair 20,000/-Director: M. T. Vasudevan Nair 10,000/-Citation: For its simplicity of treatment in the delineation of rural life with a genuine feel for human values and relationships.Best Feature Film in OriyaTaraProducer: Bijaya Jena 20,000/-Director: Bijaya Jena 10,000/-Citation: Marked by its sincerity in truthfully portraying woman's search for her identity in a male dominated society.Best Feature Film in TamilVanna Vanna PookkalProducer: S. Thanu 20,000/-Director: Balu Mahendra 10,000/-Citation: For the truthful and effective portrayal of juvenile romance ending in unexpected tragedy.Best Feature Film in TeluguBhadram KodukoProducer: V. Ramachandra Rao 20,000/-Director: Akkineni Kutumba Rao 10,000/-Citation: For effectively focussing attention on the need for providing protection to homeless children.
Non-Feature Films
Short Films made in any Indian language and certified by the Central Board of Film Certification as a documentary/newsreel/fiction are eligible for non-feature film section.
Juries
A committee headed by Buddhadeb Dasgupta was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
Jury Members Buddhadeb Dasgupta (Chairperson)Arun KaulJag MohanJehangir ChaudharyVijaya Mulay
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 Non-Feature FilmSons of Abotani: The MisingsMishingProducer: Dilip DoleyDirector: Gautam Bora 25,000/- EachCitation: For effectively portraying the life of tribe which lives on the banks of river Bramhaputra and its struggle to survive. The film is marked by its lyrical quality, serenity, sculpted sound and imaginative music.
Silver Lotus Award
Official Name: Rajat Kamal
All the awardees are awarded with 'Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal)' and cash prize.