The 51st National Film Awards, presented by the Directorate of Film Festivals, is the organisation set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 2003.
Awards were announced by the committee headed by Basu Chatterjee, Bhimsain and K. N. T. Sastry for the feature films, non-feature films and books written on Indian cinema, respectively, on 14 August 2004; whereas award ceremony took place on 3 February 2005 and the awards were given away by then President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
With the 51st National Film Awards, new category for Non-feature Film for Best Narration / Voice Over was introduced and awarded with 'Rajat Kamal (Silver 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 AwardMrinal SendirectorSwarna Kamal, and a Shawl
Feature films
Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 51st National Film Awards, a Marathi film, Shwaas won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film; whereas three Bengali films, Abar Aranye, Bhalo Theko and Chokher Bali, along with a Hindi film, Koi... Mil Gaya won the maximum number of awards (3). Following were the awards given in each category:
Juries
A committee headed by Basu Chatterjee was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
Jury Members Basu Chatterjee (Chairperson)Vijaya NirmalaN. Krishnakumar (Unni)SumalathaK. B. TilakShailaja BajpaiVirendra Saini Madhu JainRashmi DoraiswamyGayatri ChatterjeeRaj DattMakhonmani MongsabaSher ChoudharyMohan Kondajji Alaya Kumar MohantyJyoti SarupNimmala Shankar
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 FilmShwaasMarathiProducer: Arun Nalawadedirector: Sandeep Sawant 50,000/- EachCitation: For its sensitive and moving portrayal of the relationship between a grandfather and his grandson when the child is about to lose his vision.Best Debut Film of a DirectorMargamMalayalamProducer: Rajiv Vijay RaghavanDirector: Rajiv Vijay Raghavan 25,000/- EachCitation: For poignantly capturing the troubled journey of a middle-aged individual re-examining his political past in the light of prevailing socio-political values.Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome EntertainmentMunna Bhai M.B.B.S.HindiProducer: Vidhu Vinod ChopraDirector: Rajkumar Hirani 40,000/- EachCitation: For dealing with social issues with humor and compassion.Best Children's FilmToraAssameseProducer: Children's Film SocietyDirector: Jahnu Barua 30,000/- EachCitation: For showing how a child brings down the boundaries and barriers created by adults.Best DirectionAbar AranyeBengaliGautam Ghose 50,000/-Citation: For his complex weaving of human destines across a wide range of socio-political and cinematic histories.
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 IntegrationPinjarHindiProducer: Lucky Star Entertainment LtdDirector: Chandraprakash Dwivedi 30,000/- EachCitation: For exploring the power of human relationships in overcoming social and religious schisms.Best Film on Family WelfarePaadam Onnu: Oru VilapamMalayalamProducer: Aryadan ShaukatDirector: T. V. Chandran 30,000/- EachCitation: For raising a voice against early marriage and for its advocacy of women's education in a conservative society.Best Film on Other Social IssuesKoi... Mil GayaHindiProducer: Rakesh RoshanDirector: Rakesh Roshan 30,000/- EachCitation: For its compassionate portrayal of a mentally challenged young man who is able to reach out to the wonders of the universe.GangaajalHindiProducer: Prakash JhaDirector: Prakash JhaCitation: For its stark delineation of a wide range of wrongs pervading society, and state.Best Film on Environment / Conservation / PreservationJuye Poora XoonAssameseProducer: Sanjib SabhapanditDirector: Sanjib Sabhapandit 30,000/- EachCitation: For its representation of large-scale migration and the erosion of a way of life by floods and industrialisation.Best ActorPithamaganTamilVikram 10,000/-Citation: For his powerful performance in a difficult and demanding role.Best ActressPaadam Onnu: Oru VilapamMalayalamMeera Jasmine 10,000/-Citation: For her sustained and subtle portrayal of a young girl trapped in an early, polyandrous marriage and her ability to convey her little joys and large sorrows.Best Supporting ActorMaqboolHindiPankaj Kapoor 10,000/-Citation: For his riveting yet understated performance as a mafia don.Best Supporting ActressAbar AranyeBengaliSharmila Tagore 10,000/-Citation: For the grace with which she handles social and personal relationships.Best Child ArtistShwaasMarathiAshwin Chitale 5,000/- EachCitation: For his haunting performance as a child who realises he is going to lose his eyesight.Ente Veedu AppoontemMalayalamKalidasanCitation: For his versatility in portraying a range of complex emotions.Best Male Playback SingerKal Ho Naa HoHindiSonu Nigam 10,000/-Citation: For his memorable rendition of the title song that captures the spirit of the film.Best Female Playback SingerAkashitorar KothareAssameseTarali Sarma 10,000/-Citation: For her tuneful rendition of a devotional song without instrumental accompaniment.Best CinematographyBhalo ThekoBengaliCameraman: Abhik MukhopadhyayLaboratory Processing: Rainbow Color Lab 10,000/- EachCitation: For enriching the narrative with tranquility and beauty.Best ScreenplayAbar AranyeBengaliGautam Ghose 10,000/-Citation: For weaving together the strands of time creating a resonant dialogue between the past and the present.Best AudiographyBhalo ThekoBengaliAnup MukhopadhyayDeepon Chatterjee 10,000/-Citation: For the innovative use of sound, its quality and timbre.Best EditingSamay: When Time StrikesHindiAarif Sheikh 10,000/-Citation: For its crisp cutting that successfully sustains the tempo of the film's suspense.Best Art DirectionChokher BaliBengaliIndranil Ghosh 5,000/- EachCitation: For his muted recreation of a period and its ambiance.Meenaxi: A Tale of Three CitiesHindiSharmishta RoyCitation: For creating a colourful ambiance which effectively supported the narrative.Best Costume DesignChokher BaliBengaliBibi RaySushanto Pal 10,000/-Citation: For evoking a period in harmony with the spirit of the film's art direction.Best Music DirectionKal Ho Naa HoHindiShankar–Ehsaan–Loy 10,000/-Citation: For its wide range of styles and modes, enriching the themes of the film.Best LyricsTagoreTeluguSuddala Ashok Teja 10,000/-Citation: For relating Sri Sri's poem to contemporary times in order to awaken the masses against social evils.Best Special EffectsKoi... Mil GayaHindiCreator Bimmini Special Fx and Design Studios – James Colmer and Lara DenmanDigital Art Media – Marc Kolbe and Craig Mumma 10,000/-Citation: For its apt incorporation of special effects in its depiction of fantasy.Best ChoreographyKoi... Mil GayaHindiFarah Khan 10,000/-Citation: For its seamless weaving of different dance styles, in the best traditions of the musical.Special Jury AwardPinjarHindiManoj Bajpai (Actor) 12,500/-Citation: For his portrayal of the dilemma of a man caught between the dictates of his community and his love for his wife.Bhalo ThekoBengaliRoopkatha (Producer)Goutam Halder (director) 6,250/- EachCitation: For its quiet but masterful foray into the new cinematic idioms.Special MentionMouniKannadaH. G. Dattatreya (Actor)Certificate OnlyCitation: For his tremendous screen presence that makes the film.MalayalamNedumudi Venu (Actor)Citation: For his extra ordinary versatility in a range of roles in Malayalam films made in 2003.
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 AssameseAkashitarar KathareProducer: Sangeeta TamuliDirector: Manju Borah 20,000/- EachCitation: For its juxtaposition of a woman's search for her cultural heritage and its loss.Best Feature Film in BengaliChokher BaliProducer: Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra SoniDirector: Rituparno Ghosh 20,000/- EachCitation: For its operatic play of passions, breaking social norms and taboos.Best Feature Film in HindiRaghu RomeoProducer: NFDCDirector: Rajat Kapoor 20,000/- EachCitation: For a zestful spoof of popular culture where the boundaries of illusion and reality collapse and the common man turns into hero.Best Feature Film in KannadaPreethi Prema PranayaProducer: Kavitha LankeshDirector: Kavitha Lankesh 20,000/- EachCitation: For depicting the contrasting values of three generations in a light hearted manner.Best Feature Film in MalayalamSaphalamProducer: Anil ThomasDirector: Asok R. Nath 20,000/- EachCitation: For its sensitive portrayal of an old couple in their loneliness and togetherness.Best Feature Film in MarathiNot Only Mrs. RautProducer: Aditi DeshpandeDirector: Gajendra Ahire 20,000/- EachCitation: For its treatment of two women's struggle against male exploitation and domination.Best Feature Film in OdiaAw Aaakare AaProducer: Subash DasDirector: Subash Das 20,000/- EachCitation: For a passionate call for reforms in the present education system.Best Feature Film in TamilIyarkaiProducer: V. R. KumarDirector: S. P. Jananathan 20,000/- EachCitation: For a rich visual portrayal of a love story set against a unique canvas.Best Feature Film in TeluguAitheProducer: Gangaraju GunnamDirector: Chandra Sekhar Yeleti 20,000/- EachCitation: For its portrayal of frustration in the youth, successfully solving it through a positive approach almost making the characters role models.
Best Feature Film in Each of the Language Other Than Those Specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution
Name of AwardName of FilmAwardee(s)Cash prizeBest Feature Film in EnglishDance Like A ManProducer: NFDCDirector: Pamela Rooks 20,000/- EachCitation: For a human drama that engages issues of creativity and gender dynamics.
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 Bhim Sen was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
Jury Members Bhim Sen (Chairperson)Jose SebastianSatyabrata KalitaHaimanti BanerjeeRajiv KhandagleN. S. ShankarAnwar Jamal
Golden Lotus Award
Official Name: Swarna Kamal
All the awardees are awarded with 'Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal)', a certificate and cash prize.