51st National Film Awards

The 51st 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 2003.[1]

51st National Film Awards
Awarded forBest of Indian cinema in 2003
Awarded byDirectorate of Film Festivals
Presented byDr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
(President of India)
Announced on14 August 2004 (2004-08-14)
Presented on2 February 2005 (2005-02-02)
Official websitedff.nic.in
Highlights
Best Feature FilmShwaas
Best Non-Feature Film  War and Peace
  Kaya Poochhe Maya Se
Best BookFilmi Jagat Mein Ardhashakti Ka Romanch
Best Film CriticSaibal Chatterjee
Dadasaheb Phalke AwardMrinal Sen
Most awards  Bhalo Theko
  Chokher Bali
  Koi... Mil Gaya (3)

Awards were announced by the committee headed by Basu Chatterjee, Bhim Sen and K. N. T. Sastry for the feature films, non-feature films and books written on Indian cinema, respectively, on 14 August 2004;[2] whereas award ceremony took place on 3 February 2005 and awards were given away by then President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[3]

With 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 Award Awardee(s) Awarded As Awards
Dadasaheb Phalke Award Mrinal Sen[4] Director Swarna Kamal, 2,00,000 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 two Bengali films, 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:[1][2]

Juries

A committee headed by Basu Chatterjee was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:[1][5]

All India Award

Following were the awards given:[1][2]

Golden Lotus Award

Official Name: Swarna Kamal[1][2]

All the awardees are awarded with 'Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal)', a certificate and cash prize.

Name of Award Name of Film Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Feature Film Shwaas Marathi Producer: Arun Nalawade
Director: Sandeep Sawant
50,000/- Each
Citation: 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 Director Margam Malayalam Producer: Rajiv Vijay Raghavan
Director: Rajiv Vijay Raghavan
25,000/- Each
Citation: 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 Entertainment Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. Hindi Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
40,000/- Each
Citation: For dealing with social issues with humor and compassion.
Best Children's Film Tora Assamese Producer: Children's Film Society
Director: Jahnu Barua
30,000/- Each
Citation: For showing how a child brings down the boundaries and barriers created by adults.
Best Direction Abar Aranye Bengali Gautam 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[1][2]

All the awardees are awarded with 'Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal)', a certificate and cash prize.

Name of Award Name of Film Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Feature Film on National Integration Pinjar Hindi Producer: Lucky Star Entertainment Ltd
Director: Chandraprakash Dwivedi
30,000/- Each
Citation: For exploring the power of human relationships in overcoming social and religious schisms.
Best Film on Family Welfare Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam Malayalam Producer: Aryadan Shaukat
Director: T. V. Chandran
30,000/- Each
Citation: For raising a voice against early marriage and for its advocacy of women's education in a conservative society.
Best Film on Other Social Issues Koi... Mil Gaya Hindi Producer: Rakesh Roshan
Director: Rakesh Roshan
30,000/- Each
Citation: For its compassionate portrayal of a mentally challenged young man who is able to reach out to the wonders of the universe.
Gangaajal Hindi Producer: Prakash Jha
Director: Prakash Jha
Citation: For its stark delineation of a wide range of wrongs pervading society, and state.
Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation Juye Poora Xoon Assamese Producer: Sanjib Sabhapandit
Director: Sanjib Sabhapandit
30,000/- Each
Citation: For its representation of large-scale migration and the erosion of a way of life by floods and industrialisation.
Best Actor Pithamagan Tamil Vikram 10,000/-
Citation: For his powerful performance in a difficult and demanding role.
Best Actress Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam Malayalam Meera 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 Actor Maqbool Hindi Pankaj Kapoor 10,000/-
Citation: For his riveting yet understated performance as a mafia don.
Best Supporting Actress Abar Aranye Bengali Sharmila Tagore 10,000/-
Citation: For the grace with which she handles social and personal relationships.
Best Child Artist Shwaas Marathi Ashwin Chitale 5,000/- Each
Citation: For his haunting performance as a child who realises he is going to lose his eyesight.
Ente Veedu Appoontem Malayalam Kalidasan
Citation: For his versatility in portraying a range of complex emotions.
Best Male Playback Singer Kal Ho Naa Ho
("Kal Ho Naa Ho")
Hindi Sonu Nigam 10,000/-
Citation: For his memorable rendition of the title song that captures the spirit of the film.
Best Female Playback Singer Akashitorar Kothare Assamese Tarali Sarma 10,000/-
Citation: For her tuneful rendition of a devotional song without instrumental accompaniment.
Best Cinematography Bhalo Theko Bengali Cameraman: Abhik Mukhopadhyay
Laboratory Processing: Rainbow Color Lab
10,000/- Each
Citation: For enriching the narrative with tranquility and beauty.
Best Screenplay Abar Aranye Bengali Gautam Ghose 10,000/-
Citation: For weaving together the strands of time creating a resonant dialogue between the past and the present.
Best Audiography Bhalo Theko Bengali   Anup Mukhopadhyay
  Deepon Chatterjee
10,000/-
Citation: For the innovative use of sound, its quality and timbre.
Best Editing Samay: When Time Strikes Hindi Aarif Sheikh 10,000/-
Citation: For its crisp cutting that successfully sustains the tempo of the film's suspense.
Best Art Direction Chokher Bali Bengali Indranil Ghosh 5,000/- Each
Citation: For his muted recreation of a period and its ambiance.
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities Hindi Sharmishta Roy
Citation: For creating a colourful ambiance which effectively supported the narrative.
Best Costume Design Chokher Bali Bengali   Bibi Ray
  Sushanto Pal
10,000/-
Citation: For evoking a period in harmony with the spirit of the film's art direction.
Best Music Direction Kal Ho Naa Ho Hindi Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy 10,000/-
Citation: For its wide range of styles and modes, enriching the themes of the film.
Best Lyrics Tagore
("Nenusaitham")
Telugu Suddala 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 Effects Koi... Mil Gaya Hindi   Creator Bimmini Special Fx and Design Studios - James Colmer and Lara Denman
  Digital Art Media - Marc Kolbe and Craig Mumma
10,000/-
Citation: For its apt incorporation of special effects in its depiction of fantasy.
Best Choreography Koi... Mil Gaya
("Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala")
Hindi Farah Khan 10,000/-
Citation: For its seamless weaving of different dance styles, in the best traditions of the musical.
Special Jury Award Pinjar Hindi Manoj 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 Theko Bengali   Roopkatha (Producer)
  Goutam Halder (Director)
6,250/- Each
Citation: For its quiet but masterful foray into the new cinematic idioms.
Special Mention Mouni Kannada H. G. Dattatreya (Actor) Certificate Only
Citation: For his tremendous screen presence that makes the film.
Malayalam Nedumudi 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.[1][2]

Name of Award Name of Film Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Feature Film in Assamese Akashitarar Kathare Producer: Sangeeta Tamuli
Director: Manju Borah
20,000/- Each
Citation: For its juxtaposition of a woman's search for her cultural heritage and its loss.
Best Feature Film in Bengali Chokher Bali Producer: Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni
Director: Rituparno Ghosh
20,000/- Each
Citation: For its operatic play of passions, breaking social norms and taboos.
Best Feature Film in Hindi Raghu Romeo Producer: NFDC
Director: Rajat Kapoor
20,000/- Each
Citation: 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 Kannada Preethi Prema Pranaya Producer: Kavitha Lankesh
Director: Kavitha Lankesh
20,000/- Each
Citation: For depicting the contrasting values of three generations in a light hearted manner.
Best Feature Film in Malayalam Saphalam Producer: Anil Thomas
Director: Asok R. Nath
20,000/- Each
Citation: For its sensitive portrayal of an old couple in their loneliness and togetherness.
Best Feature Film in Marathi Not Only Mrs. Raut Producer: Aditi Deshpande
Director: Gajendra Ahire
20,000/- Each
Citation: For its treatment of two women's struggle against male exploitation and domination.
Best Feature Film in Odia Aw Aaakare Aa Producer: Subash Das
Director: Subash Das
20,000/- Each
Citation: For a passionate call for reforms in the present education system.
Best Feature Film in Tamil Iyarkai Producer: V. R. Kumar
Director: S. P. Jananathan
20,000/- Each
Citation: For a rich visual portrayal of a love story set against a unique canvas.
Best Feature Film in Telugu Aithe Producer: Gangaraju Gunnam
Director: Chandra Sekhar Yeleti
20,000/- Each
Citation: 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 Award Name of Film Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Feature Film in English Dance Like A Man Producer: NFDC
Director: Pamela Rooks
20,000/- Each
Citation: 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:[1][5]

  • Jury Members
    • Bhim Sen (Chairperson)  Jose Sebastian  Satyabrata Kalita  Haimanti Banerjee  Rajiv Khandagle  N. S. Shankar  Anwar Jamal

Golden Lotus Award

Official Name: Swarna Kamal[1][6][7]

All the awardees are awarded with 'Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal)', a certificate and cash prize.

Name of Award Name of Film Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Non-Feature Film War and Peace English Producer: Anand Patwardhan
Director: Anand Patwardhan
10,000/- Each
Citation: For setting out to search for the roots of violence manifest in many forms in the current times- from communal forces to nuclear race, Shot in India, Pakistan, Japan and USA, the film achieves a multi-layered understanding of these deep rooted tensions- at the same time recording the aspirations for peace, harmony and secularism, in the backdrop of Gandhian thought.
Kaya Poochhe Maya Se Hindi Producer: Arvind Sinha
Director: Arvind Sinha
Citation: For a probing, thoughtful, intense, yet a non-judgmental record of the myriad faces of humanity floating around the Howrah Station that lies by the side of the river Ganga. The director with just his keen eye and an unpredictable symmetry of images, gains an inner eye into the mystery called people. It is as though an entire civilisation is reconstructed through images of floating faces, people and sounds.
Best Non-Feature Film Direction Kaya Poochhe Maya Se Hindi Arvind Sinha 10,000/- Each
Citation: For the teeming surge of humanity in Howrah station with compassion and warmth.

Silver Lotus Award

Official Name: Rajat Kamal[1][6][7]

All the awardees are awarded with 'Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal)' and cash prize.

Name of Award Name of Film Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best First Non-Feature Film An Encounter With A Life Living Hindi and English Producer: Vinu Abraham
Director: Suja
10,000/- Each
Citation: For depicting the plight of a physically incapacitated Sarasu and her cheerful will to live. The director achieves this bringing out the totality, spiritual richness of a "life lived only in the mind" – through an innovative narrative idiom.
Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film Aur Ghumantu Thhahar Gaye Hindi Producer: Leo Arts Communication
Director: Meenakshi Vinay Rai
10,000/- Each
Citation: For records the life of the nomadic tribe Ghumantu and their peculiar plight of being labelled "habitual offenders". It also records the efforts made at rehabilitating them.
Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varrier English Producer: Kerala State Film Development Corporation
Director: T. Krishnan Unni
10,000/- Each
Citation: For records the life of a pioneer in Ayurvedic medicine Dr. P.S. Varrier. The film also brings out his many faceted personality along with his contribution to performing arts and literature.
Best Arts / Cultural Film Picasso Metamorphoses English Producer: Y. N. Engineer for Films Division
Director: Nandkumar Sadamate
10,000/- Each
Citation: For its rare attempt at interpreting the works of the legendary painter making him accessible even to those uninitiated to his art. The film examines the troubled times that Picasso lived in, his ideals, his relationships and the inevitable symbiosis of his life and work.
Best Scientific Film / Best Environment / Conservation / Preservation Film (Jointly given) The 18 Elephant – Three Monologues Malayalam Producer: Savithri Divakaran
Director: P. Balan
10,000/- Each
Citation: For using the novel method of elephants narrating their own story (in human voice) to raise a cry against "man centric" concept of development. The film also succeeds in raising bigger issues of ecological balance, and cruelty to animals.
Best Promotional Film Ladakh - The Land Of Mystery English Producer: Biyot Projna Tripathy
Director: Biyot Projna Tripathy
10,000/- Each
Citation: For capturing the shining landscape, the people, their culture, beliefs and way of life in pleasing visuals.
Best Agricultural Film Seeds Of Life English Producer: Rajiv Mehrotra
Director: Usha Albuquerque
10,000/- Each
Citation: For its focus on "Navadanya" the movement launched to retrieve the traditional wisdom in alternative farming methods. The film's importance emerges in the face of the current globalisation-led agrarian uncertainties.
Best Film on Social Issues Way Back Home Bengali Producer:Rajasri Mukhopadhyay
Director: Supriyo Sen
10,000/- Each
Citation: For its recounting of a remarkable journey to a homeland lost for ever, as a result of partition. A family driven out of East Pakistan during partition, undertakes a journey back after fifty years to their "homeland". The journey eventually turns into a story of painful memories, lost relationships and the madness of partition- all achieved through a touching personal narrative.
Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film Fiddlers On The Thatch English Producer: Rajiv Mehrotra
Director: Trisha Das
10,000/- Each
Citation: This film is the story of "The Gandhian Ashram School" in Kalimpong but it is also a story of the deprived kids gaining their dignity and hope of a teacher who fed their bodies and spirit – all bound by the common thread of music. The director achieves a poignant blend of visual narrative and music to create a heartwarming tale of "sharing and caring" in this film.
Best Exploration / Adventure Film Madness In The Desert English Producer: Aamir Khan
Director: Satyajit Bhatkal
10,000/- Each
Citation: For explores the spirit, the effort and the mammoth ambition behind the making of "Lagaan". The director has rendered this into a gripping and slick tale.
Best Investigative Film A Silent Killer English Producer: Dhananjoy Mondal
Director: Dhananjoy Mondal
10,000/- Each
Citation: The film is a forceful statement on the disastrous consequences of millions of people drinking water contaminated with "arsenic". In a simple but effective manner, the filmmaker explores and then brings out the enormity of the problem.
Best Animation Film Jeo Aur Jeene Do Hindi Producer: Children's Film Society
Director: B. R. Sarnaik
Animator: Harshad Sayeed Noori
10,000/- Each
Citation: In a humorous, colourful but effective way, the film conveys the message of wild life protection. The imaginative use of animation techniques enhances the appeal of the film, especially to children.
Best Short Fiction Film Sati Radhika Assamese Producer: Anjali Das
Director: Anjali Das
10,000/- Each
Citation: For a popular tale relating to the great 14th century reformer Shankara Deva who stood against caste inequality. The tale narrates an allegory wherein Sati Radhika a fisherwoman perform a miraculous feat, which others could not, thus bringing out the noble concept of social equality.
Best Cinematography Kaya Poochhe Maya Se Hindi Cameraman: Ranjan Palit
Laboratory Processing: Prasad Film Laboratory
5,000/- Each
Citation: For a cinematic observation of myriad shades of humanity and breathtaking chiaroscuro of light and shade.
The 18 Elephants – 3 Monologues Malayalam Cameraman: K. G. Jayan
Laboratory Processing: Prasad Film Laboratory
Citation: For his camera vision, which is a manifesto of exploring the reality, and transporting it to the surreal, to beyond the manifest.
Best Audiography Bhaba Paagla Bengali Ramesh Birajdar 10,000/-
Citation: For sound design which evokes a vision of a world far, far away from the madding crowd, which oscillates between the silences and nature's pristine sounds.
Best Editing Unni Malayalam Beena Paul 10,000/-
Citation: For the way she supports the eerie pace of a story that swings from here to beyond.
Best Music Direction Fiddlers On The Thatch English Julius Packiam 10,000/-
Citation: For creating an ambience of music that effectively works also as part of the main narrative.
Best Narration / Voice Over The 18 Elephants – 3 Monologues Malayalam Balachandran Chullikkadu 10,000/- Each
Citation: For lending feel and depth to the agonies of elephants through his voice.
Special Jury Award The Lijjat Sisterhood English Kadhambari Chintamani (Director)
Ajit Oommen (Director)
2,500/- Each
Citation: For documenting the inspiring story of hundreds of women workers in the Lijjat papad making, selling and exporting. Through the first person interviews ranging from the oldest to the youngest, it is a vibrant narration of a unique experiment turned famously successful.
Ek Aakash Silent Sudhakar Reddy (Director) 10,000/-
Citation: For starting off as a simple rivalry of two kids from different backgrounds – in kite flying, becomes a battle of one-upmanship. Both are led by their ego and aggressive instincts, but eventually reach a point when they need others help.
Special Mention Mangali - An Exorcision Shilpi Dasgupta (Director) Certificate Only
Citation: For the thoughtful and laudable craft that shaped the film.
Water English Aseem Bose (Cameraman)
Citation: For enhancing the impact of the film with his eloquent lens, that captures the spirit of the subject of the film.

Best Writing on Cinema

The awards aim at encouraging study and appreciation of cinema as an art form and dissemination of information and critical appreciation of this art-form through publication of books, articles, reviews etc.

Juries

A committee headed by K. N. T. Sastry was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. Following were the jury members:[1][5]

Golden Lotus Award

Official Name: Swarna Kamal[1][8]

All the awardees are awarded with 'Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal)' and cash prize.

Name of Award Name of Book Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Book on Cinema Filmi Jagat Mein Ardhashakti Ka Romanch Hindi Author: Bharatiya Jnanpith
Publisher: Ramakrishna
15,000/- Each
Citation: For a unique style of chronicling the flip side of film personality through his own biography. It gives an insight into the history of cinema and film journalism in a refreshingly different style
Best Film Critic Saibal Chatterjee 15,000/-
Citation: For incisive, bold and realistic criticism of the film industry couched in a refreshing style of writing.

Special Mention

All the award winners are awarded with Certificate of Merit.[1][8]

Name of Award Name of Book Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Special Mention (Book on Cinema) Kathapurush Bengali Author: Deepankar Mukhopadhyay Certificate Only
Citation: For a commendable revelation of the personality of the filmmaker (Mrinal Sen).
Chalanchitra Nirdeshaka Kannada Author: P. N. Srinivas
Citation: For a unique presentation of the technicalities of film-making and international film personalities.
Special Mention (Film Critic) Telugu Vasiraju Prakashan
Citation: For introducing film personalities of parallel cinema in the parched atmosphere of Telugu filmdom.

Awards not given

Following were the awards not given as no film was found to be suitable for the award:[1][2][6][7]

References

  1. "51st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  2. "51st National film Awards (Feature Films)". Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Archived from the original on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  3. "President gives away 51st national film awards". Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Archived from the original on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  4. "Dadasaheb Phalke Award Past Recipients". Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  5. "Jury for 51st National Film Awards constituted". Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Archived from the original on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  6. "51st National film Awards Non-Feature Film category announced". Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Archived from the original on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  7. "51st National film Awards (Non-Feature Films)". Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  8. "51st National film Awards (Books)". Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Archived from the original on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
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