On the 25th of October, the Vigyan Bhawan at New Delhi was elated to witness and host the 67th edition of the National Film Awards. The 67th National Film Awards was delayed several times due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was presented to honour the best Indian films, which were certified in India during the period of the 1st of January and the 31st of December, 2019. It was originally scheduled to be held on the 3rd of May 2020. Later on, these awards were announced on the 22nd of March 2021, which were finally presented to the winners through this event at the National Capital.
History of National Film Awards
The National Film Awards were presented for the very first time in the year 1954. It is the country’s highest film honour conferred for “Outstanding contribution for the growth and development of Indian cinema”.
At that point in time, the Government of India started this initiative to honour the films which were made across India to encourage Indian art and culture on a national scale. This underwent a change in 1973 when the Indian Directorate of Film Festivals was given the authority to administer the ceremony along with other major annual film events in India.
67th National Film Awards
Talking about the recipients of this session, Superstar Rajinikanth was awarded the 51st Dada Saheb Phalke Award. At the same time, Manoj Bajpayee received the National Film Award in the Best Actor category for Bhonsle (Hindi). Dhanush was also bestowed with the same award for his performance in the movie Asuran (Tamil). On the other hand, Kangana Ranaut won the award in the category of Best Actress for her performance in the movies Panga (Hindi) and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (Hindi). This also happens to be the first time that two awards have gone to the same family as Best Actor award recipient Dhanush is also the son-in-law of Rajnikanth, who was bestowed with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award. The awards were presented by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.
Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea won 3 awards in this 67th National Film Awards. This Malayalam movie in which Mohanlal played the lead role is directed by Priyadarshan, has won the award in the categories of Best Feature Film, Best Special effects and Best Costume Design.
Dada Saheb Phalke Awards
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, who is popularly known as Dada Saheb Phalke, was a legendary Indian producer, director, and screenwriter. He directed India’s first feature film Raja Harischandra (1913), and he is known as “Father of Indian Cinema”. Named after him, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award was introduced by the government in the year 1969 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Phalke in 1870 to acknowlegde the contribution of such personalities towards the development of Indian cinema. Since then, this award has been awarded annually to such persons for their distinguished contribution to the Indian Cinema.
Devika Rani, became the first one to receive this award, also known as “the first lady of Indian cinema”, when she received this prestigious award in the 17th National Film Award.