# 57th National Film Awards

The 57th 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 2009.
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, Ramesh Sippy, for feature films and Mike Pandey along with Samik Bandyopadhyay for non-feature films and best writing on cinema sections, respectively. Another committee of five members was also constituted for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Each chairperson for feature film, non-feature film and best writing on cinema sections announced the award on 15 September 2010 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 22 October 2010.
Dadasaheb Phalke award for D. Ramanaidu was announced prior to the announcement of 57th National Film Awards on 9 September 2010.
With 57th National Film Awards, for feature film section, National Film Award for Best Screenplay, Best Audiography and Best Music Direction have been split into multiple awards to felicitate different aspect of the techniques. Best Screenplay would now cover Original and Adapted Screenplay along with Dialogues. National Film Award for Best Audiography have been sub-categorized into Location sound recordist, Sound designer and Re-recordist of the final mixed track; whereas Best Music Direction will be given for Songs and Background score, separately. All the awardee will be 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

Lifetime achievement award is given to the prominent personality from the Indian film industry for the significant contributions given.

#### Juries

A committee consisting five eminent personalities from Indian film industry was appointed to evaluate the lifetime achievement award, Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Yash Chopra • Akkineni Nageswara Rao • Javed Akhtar • Jagjit Singh • Asha Parekh
| Name of Award | Image | Awardee(s) | Awarded As | Awards |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | | D. Ramanaidu | Producer | Swarna Kamal, ₹ 1,000,000 and a Shawl |

### 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.
A total of 20 films were awarded in this category at the National Awards. Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 57th National Film Awards, a Malayalam film, Kutty Srank won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film also winning the maximum number of awards (5). Following were the awards given in each category:

#### Juries

A committee headed by Ramesh Sippy was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. The selection process returned to a Two Tier System of Selection. The Chairperson for the Northern Region was Sushma Seth, for the Western Region, M. S. Sathyu, for South–I Region, T. S. Nagabharana, for the Eastern Region, B. Lenin and for South- II Region, Pinaki Chaudhari. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Ramesh Sippy (Chairperson) • M. S. Sathyu • T. S. Nagabharana • Pinaki Chaudhuri • B. Lenin
** Sushma Seth • Bhanu Athaiya • Maithili Rao • Hari Kumar • Feroz Abbas Khan • Sarosh Italiaa
* Jury Regional : North
** Sushma Seth • Birendra Nath Tiwari • Rama Vij • Saryu V. Doshi • Apurwa Yagnik
* Jury Regional : West
** M. S. Sathyu • Ramdas Phutane • Ranjeet • Kuldip Sud • Fowzia Fathima
* Jury Regional : South-I (Tamil and Malayalam)
** T. S. Nagabharana • Agathiyan • R. Sarath • Sanjeev Sivan • Prem Sagar
* Jury Regional : South-II (Kannada and Telugu)
** Pinaki Chaudhuri • Chandrasiddarth • V. N. Laxminarayana • Suresh Krishna • Prabodh Parikh
* Jury Regional : East
** B. Lenin • Makhonmani Mongsaba • Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury • Vidya Rao Nair • Jeroo Mulla

#### 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 Award | Name of Film | Language | Awardee(s) | Cash Prize |
| Best Feature Film | Kutty Srank | Malayalam | Producer: Reliance Big Pictures Director: Shaji N. Karun | ₹ 2,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its vision and cinematic craft that express the different perspectives of three women about the truth of the man in their lives. ||||
| Best Debut Film of A Director | Lahore | Hindi | Producer: Vivek Khatkar Director: Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan | ₹ 1,25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For excellent control over the medium and using sport as a metaphor to tell a compelling story. ||||
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | 3 Idiots | Hindi | Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra Director: Rajkumar Hirani | ₹ 2,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an intelligent entertainer that touches upon the contemporary concerns of society with great humour and engaging performances. ||||
| Best Children's Film | Putaani Party | Kannada | Producer: Children's Film Society Director: Ramchandra P. N. | ₹ 37,500/- Each |
| ₹ 37,500/- Each |||
| Best Children's Film | Keshu | Malayalam | Producer: Children's Film Society, India Director: Sivan | ₹ 37,500/- Each |
| ₹ 37,500/- Each |||
| Best Direction | Abohomaan | Bengali | Rituparno Ghosh | ₹ 2,50,000/- |
| Citation: For the many layered narrative of emotional conflict, rich texture and ensemble performances. ||||

##### 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 Award | Name of Film | Language | Awardee(s) | Cash Prize |
| Best Feature Film on National Integration | Delhi-6 | Hindi | Producer: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its uncompromising stance towards communal divide and offering a humanistic solution of taking individual responsibility. ||||
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Well Done Abba | Hindi | Producer: Reliance Big Pictures Director: Shyam Benegal | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a socio-political satire about a common man's fight for justice against an all pervasive corrupt system. ||||
| Best Actor | Paa | Hindi | Amitabh Bachchan | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For a rare performance that fuses the art and craft of an actor to create a character that lives with you long after the film is over. ||||
| Best Actress | Abohomaan | Bengali | Anannya Chatterjee | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the exquisite detailing of a complex character through different stages of the professional and personal life of an actress. ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | Lahore | Hindi | Farooq Sheikh | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the consummate ease with which he persuades and inspires everyone around him while retaining his integrity and dignity. ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Paa | Hindi | Arundathi Nag | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the restraint with which she conveys strength, compassion and understanding to her daughter, a single mother, bringing up a son stricken with a rare degenerative disease. ||||
| Best Child Artist | Pasanga | Tamil | • Sree Raam • Kishore | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the spirited performance of a protagonist and an antagonist who are incomplete without each other. The two young shoulders carry the narrative through a delightful journey. ||||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Mahanagar@Kolkata ("Ei To Ami") | Bengali | Rupam Islam | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the deeply felt emotional resonance and a haunting lilt that evokes the thematic ambience of the film. ||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Houseful ("Boe Jay Shudhu Bish") | Bengali | Nilanjana Sarkar | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the haunting texture of a voice that blends the melody, words and rhythm. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Kutty Srank | Malayalam | Cameraman: Anjuli Shukla Laboratory Processing: Adlabs Films Ltd. | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the breathtaking sweep that captures the magical mystery of a multilayered narrative. ||||
| Best Screenplay • Screenplay Writer (Original) | Kutty Srank | Malayalam | • P. F. Mathews • Harikrishna | ₹ 25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the mysterious narrative that weaves together multiple perspectives to create a coherent whole, and yet leaves a haunting ambiguity. ||||
| Best Screenplay • Screenplay Writer (Adapted) | Kanasemba Kudureyaneri | Kannada | • Gopal Krishan Pai • Girish Kasaravalli | ₹ 25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For linking the theme of death and its inevitability through a narrative style that presents two versions of the same event, not necessarily in chronological order. ||||
| Best Screenplay • Dialogues | Pasanga | Tamil | Pandiraj | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the conversational quality with its cutting edge wit and life like freshness. ||||
| Best Audiography • Location Sound Recordist | Kaminey | Hindi | Subash Sahoo | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For excellent live sound quality with the right tonal balance, capturing all the ambient sounds. ||||
| Best Audiography • Sound Designer | Keralavarma Pazhassiraja | Malayalam | Resul Pookutty | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For creating an outstanding aural landscape that transports you to a historical era. ||||
| Best Audiography • Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track | 3 Idiots | Hindi | Anup Dev | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the fine amalgamation of different elements of sound to create the right ambience and perspective of the film image. ||||
| Best Editing | Abohomaan | Bengali | Arghyakamal Mitra | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For a very precise juxtaposition of time and space, allowing every frame to unravel the story with a keen sense of rhythm and pace. ||||
| Best Art Direction | Delhi-6 | Hindi | Samir Chanda | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For a very convincing match of actual locations with detailed, recreated sets. ||||
| Best Costume Design | Kutty Srank | Malayalam | Jayakumar | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For capturing the essence of period and characters with the right blend of colour, style and texture. ||||
| Best Make-up Artist | Paa | Hindi | • Christien Tinsley • Dominie Till | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For authentic, detailed creation of a heart-warming character stricken by a fatal disease. ||||
| Best Music Direction • Songs | Dev.D | Hindi | Amit Trivedi | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the innovative composition that blend contemporary and folk sounds. ||||
| Best Music Direction • Background Score | Keralavarma Pazhassiraja | Malayalam | Ilaiyaraaja | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For creating epic grandeur by fusing symphonic orchestration with traditional Indian instrumentation. ||||
| Best Lyrics | 3 Idiots ("Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh") | Hindi | Swanand Kirkire | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the simplicity and depth of feelings conveyed through evocative imagery. ||||
| Best Special Effects | Magadheera | Telugu | R. C. Kamal Kannan | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the stunning use of special effects to enhance the visual sweeps of the fantastical story telling. ||||
| Best Choreography | Magadheera | Telugu | K. Sivasankar | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For breath taking energy and innovation. ||||
| Special Jury Award | • Kaminey • Keralavarma Pazhassiraja • Kutty Srank | • Hindi • Malayalam • Malayalam | A. Sreekar Prasad (Editor) | ₹ 2,00,000/- |
| Citation: For his continued pursuance of excellence to the art and craft of editing, covering a range of themes and styles. ||||
| Special Mention | | | Padmapriya (Actress) | Certificate Only |
| Citation: For the range and skill of an actor to portray varied characters in films of different languages. ||||

#### Regional Awards

The award is given to best film in the regional languages in India.
| Name of Award | Name of Film | Awardee(s) | Cash Prize |
| Best Feature Film in Assamese | Basundhara | Producer: Hiren Bora Director: Hiren Bora | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For dealing with a pressing, contemporary ecological issue with sincerity. |||
| Best Feature Film in Bengali | Abohomaan | Producer: Reliance Big Pictures Director: Rituparno Ghosh | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For sheer artistry that blends form and content of a provocative subject. |||
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | Paa | Producer: Amitabh Bachchan Corporation and Sunil Manchanda Director: R. Balki | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a heart rendering, yet unsentimental portrayal of a family dealing with a tragedy foretold. |||
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Kanasemba Kudureyaneri | Producer: Basanta Kumar Patil Director: Girish Kasaravalli | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the departure from linear narrative to unfold the interlinked events in a village and its superstitions. |||
| Best Feature Film in Konkani | Paltadacho Munis | Producer: NFDC Director: Laxmikant Shetgaonkar | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the simplicity and humanism of dealing with a person the world calls insane. |||
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Keralavarma Pazhassiraja | Producer: Gokulam Gopalan Director: T.Hariharan | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For recreating the life and times of a forgotten and unsung hero who gave the first call of freedom from British rule. |||
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Natarang | Producer: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. Director: Ravindra Harishchandra Jadhav | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For depicting the passion of an artiste, who despite social ostracism, political oppression and personal failures, pursues his dream. |||
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Pasanga | Producer: M. Sasikumar Director: Pandiraj | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the unconventional, imaginative and energetic joyride of children that is delightful and uplifting. |||

### Non-Feature Films

Films made in any Indian language shot on 16 mm, 35 mm or in a wider gauge or digital format and released on either film format or video/digital but certified by the Central Board of Film Certification as a documentary/newsreel/fiction are eligible for non-feature film section.
A total of 11 films were awarded in the non-feature film category at the 57th National Film Awards. Gaarud and In Camera, both received the maximum number of awards, two.

#### Juries

A committee headed by Mike Pandey was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Mike Pandey (Chairperson) • M. R. Rajan • Joy Bimal Roy • Vibhu Puri • Rajesh Jala • Bani Prakash Das • Maya Jaideep

#### 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 Award | Name of Film | Language | Awardee(s) | Cash Prize |
| Best Non-Feature Film | The Postman | Tamil | Producer: K. Hariharan Director: B. Manohar | ₹ 37,500/- Each |
| ₹ 37,500/- Each |||
| Best Non-Feature Film | Bilal | Bengali and Hindi | Producer: Sourav Sarangi Director: Sourav Sarangi | ₹ 37,500/- Each |
| ₹ 37,500/- Each |||

#### Silver Lotus Award

Official Name: Rajat Kamal
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 | Vaishnav Jan Toh | Hindi | Producer: Film and Television Institute of India Director: Kaushal Oza | ₹ 37,500/- Each |
| ₹ 37,500/- Each |||
| Best First Non-Feature Film | Ekti Kaktaliyo Golpo | Bengali | Producer: Film and Television Institute of India Director: Tathagata Singha | ₹ 37,500/- Each |
| ₹ 37,500/- Each |||
| Best Biographical Film | Pancham Unmixed | Bengali, Hindi and English | Producer: Brahmanand S Siingh Director: Brahmanand S Siingh | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an engaging compilation of the tumultuous journey of a legendary and iconic music composer of the Indian Film Industry whose music lives on. ||||
| Best Environment / Conservation / Preservation Film and Best Agricultural Film (Jointly given) | In For Motion | English | Producer: Amlan Dutta Director: Anirban Dutta | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For portraying the changing scenario in the urban environment where burgeoning and mindless development is swallowing agricultural lands. ||||
| Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film | Pancham Unmixed | Bengali, Hindi and English | Producer: Brahmanand S Siingh Director: Brahmanand S Siingh | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an engaging compilation of the tumultuous journey of a legendary and iconic music composer of the Indian Film Industry whose music lives on. ||||
| Best Film on Social Issues | Mr. India | Meitei | Producer: Haobam Paban Kumar Director: Haobam Paban Kumar | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For bringing alive a motivational and touching story of indomitable human spirit and resilience. The struggle of an HIV patient who overcame all odds and barriers to win Mr. India title. ||||
| Best Short Fiction Film | Boond | Hindi | Producer: Kumar Mangat Director: Abhishek Pathak | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For "Wars will be fought for water" – a story of the future set in a village starved of water, food and love. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Gaarud | Hindi and Marathi | Cameraman: Deepu S. Unni Laboratory Processing: Adlabs Films Ltd. | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For brilliant craftsmanship, intelligent lensing in aesthetically recreating the ambience and the diverse pulsating life in a semi-urban lodge. ||||
| Best Audiography | Gaarud | Hindi and Marathi | Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track: Lipika Singh Darai | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For imaginative use of ambient sounds in effectively creating diverse soundscapes. ||||
| Best Editing | In Camera | English | Tarun Bhartiya | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For being able to seamlessly juxtapose past and present experiences in the form of images. ||||
| Best Narration / Voice Over | In Camera | English | Ranjan Palit | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For his natural flow and engaging narration of a well-told story. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Kelkkunnundo | Malayalam | Aasna Aslam (Child actor) | ₹ 1,00,000/- |
| Citation: For her natural, sensitive and touching performance. ||||
| Special Mention | Vilay | Silent film | Nikita Bhagat (Cinematographer) | Certificate Only |
| Citation: For her evocative and pathbreaking camerawork. The innovative use of shift focus brought, images, textures and emotions to life. ||||

### 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 Samik Bandyopadhyay was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Samik Bandyopadhyay (Chairperson) • R. K. Bidur Singh • Sharad Dutt

#### Golden Lotus Award

Official Name: Swarna Kamal
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 | Cinemaa Yaana | Kannada | Author: K. Puttaswamy Publisher: Hasiru Prakashana | ₹ 75,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its probingly critical introduction to Kannada cinema in its interconnections with literature and theatre, history and society; with insightful analyses of the classics of Kannada cinema and assessments of individual contributions, often from beyond the borders of Karnataka; supplemented by excellent photographs and annotations; and extraordinary production values. ||||
| Best Film Critic | | Malayalam | C. S. Venkiteswaran | ₹ 75,000/- |
| Citation: For his response to the multiplicity inherent in the cinematic form from an evolved consciousness of the medium and a historical sense of its overt/subliminal ideologies, articulated in a controlled and expressive prose where the insight allows him to remain nonjudgmental and suggestive. ||||

#### Special Mention

All the award winners are awarded with Certificate of Merit.
| Name of Award | Name of Book | Language | Awardee(s) | Cash Prize |
| Special Mention (Book on Cinema) | Eka Studioche Atmavrutta | Marathi | Prabhakar Pendharkar | Certificate Only |
| Citation: For its unusual mode of documenting the history of one of the oldest Marathi studios. ||||

### Awards not given

Following were the awards not given as no film was found to be suitable for the award:
* Best Animated Film
* Best Film on Family Welfare
* Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation
* Best Feature Film in Manipuri (Meitei)
* Best Feature Film in Oriya
* Best Feature Film in Punjabi
* Best Feature Film in Telugu
* Best Feature Film in English
* Best Non-Feature Film Direction
* Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film
* Best Arts / Cultural Film
* Best Scientific Film
* Best Promotional Film
* Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film
* Best Exploration / Adventure Film
* Best Investigative Film
* Best Animation Film
* Best Non-feature Film on Family Welfare
* Best Music Direction