# 56th National Film Awards

The 56th National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India to celebrate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 2008.
Three committees were instituted in order to judge the various entries for feature film, non-feature film and best writing on cinema sections, headed by the National award-winning director, Shaji N. Karun, for feature films and Aruna Raje Patil for non-feature films and Sunil Gangopadhyay for best writing on cinema.
Each chairperson announced the award on 23 January 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 20 March 2010.

## Awards

Awards were divided into feature films, non-feature films and books written on Indian cinema.

### Lifetime Achievement Award

| Name of Award | Image | Awardee(s) | Awarded As | Awards |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | | V. K. Murthy | Cinematographer | Swarna Kamal, ₹ 10,00,000 and a Shawl |

### Feature films

Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 56th National Film Awards, a Bengali film, Antaheen won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film; whereas a Marathi film, Jogwa won the maximum number of awards (5). The following awards were given in each category:

#### Juries

A committee headed by Shaji N. Karun was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. The jury members were:
* Shaji N. Karun (Chairperson) • Roshan Taneja • H. M. Ramachandra • Nagma • Satyabrata Kalita • Neelakanta • Dilip Ghosh • Swapan Mullick • Sudesh Syal • S. K. Srivastava • Archana • B. Shashi Kumar • Subhash Sehgal • Santosh Desai • Sreelekha Mukherji

#### All India Award

The following awards were 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 | Antaheen | Bengali | Producer: Screenplay Films Pvt. Ltd. Director: Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury | ₹ 2,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For lyrical blend of technical devices in the right proportion to depict shifting human relationships in an urban scenario. ||||
| Best Debut Film of A Director | A Wednesday! | Hindi | Producer: UTV Motion Pictures Director: Neeraj Pandey | ₹ 1,25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For slick and searing exposure of the tension below the normal rhythm of life and the angst of the common man in Mumbai. ||||
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! | Hindi | Producer: UTV Motion Pictures Director: Dibakar Banerjee | ₹ 2,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its intelligent treatment of an off-beat subject that makes it different within the popular format. ||||
| Best Children's Film | Gubbachigalu | Kannada | Producer: Media House Studio Director: Abhaya Simha | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For imaginative portrayal of a magic world that exists in the minds of children. ||||
| Best Animated Film | Roadside Romeo | Hindi | Producer: Aditya Chopra Director: Jugal Hansraj Animator: Tata Elxsi/VCL | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its technical achievements to further the craft of animation for mainstream audience. ||||
| Best Direction | Naan Kadavul | Tamil | Bala | ₹ 2,50,000/- |
| Citation: For its powerful handling of an extraordinary subject that focuses on marginal characters with great convection. ||||

##### 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 | Aai Kot Nai | Assamese | Producer: Rajen Bora Director: Manju Borah | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its honest look at a burning problem in Northeast India, its attempt to break down artificial boundaries and giving it a human and aesthetic appeal. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Little Zizou | English and Gujarati | Producer: Jigri Dost Productions Director: Sooni Taraporevala | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its witty and intelligent handling of the conflicts and convictions confronting the Parsi community. ||||
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Jogwa | Marathi | Producer: Shripal Morakhia Director: Rajeev Patil | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For hard hitting comment on the victims of age old social customs. ||||
| Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation | Jianta Bhoota | Oriya | Producer: Akshay Parija Director: Prashanta Nanda | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For sensitive portrayal of exploitation of innocence in the name of development. ||||
| Best Actor | Jogwa | Marathi | Upendra Limaye | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For his restrained yet powerful depiction of a complex character. ||||
| Best Actress | Fashion | Hindi | Priyanka Chopra | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For convincing portrayal of a whole range of emotions within a single character. ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | Rock On!! | Hindi | Arjun Rampal | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For his moving performance as a musician trying to rise above personal tragedy. ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Fashion | Hindi | Kangana Ranaut | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For compelling portrayal of a down and out super model that enriches the impact of the film. ||||
| Best Child Artist | Thanks Maa | Hindi | Shams Patel | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For his very natural depiction of a street child thrown into an unusual situation. ||||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Jogwa ("Jeev Dangla Gungla Rangla") | Marathi | Hariharan | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For his soulful rendition reflecting the agony of unfulfilled emotions. ||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | • Antaheen ("Pherari Mon") • Jogwa ("Jeev Dangla Gungla Rangla") | • Bengali • Marathi | Shreya Ghoshal | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For her wide ranging rendition of human emotions. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Antaheen | Bengali | Cameraman: Abhik Mukhopadhyay Laboratory Processing: Filmlab, Mumbai | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the poetically captured visuals with inspired use of light and shades to enhanced the mood of the film. ||||
| Best Screenplay | Gandha | Marathi | Sachin Kundalkar | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its remarkable integration of three different plots using the sense of smell at as a liet motif to focus sensitively on human relationships. ||||
| Best Audiography | Gandha | Marathi | • Pramod J. Thomas • Anmol Bhave | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its use of dramatically scripted sounds to heighten the mood of the film. ||||
| Best Editing | Firaaq | Hindi | A. Sreekar Prasad | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For aesthetically weaving together unrelated sequences to heighten the dramatic impact. ||||
| Best Art Direction | Firaaq | Hindi | Gautam Sen | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its perfect use of props and choice of colours to enhance the ambience of a post-riots. ||||
| Best Costume Design | Jodhaa Akbar | Hindi | Neeta Lulla | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its painstaking detail to recreate the costume costumes and jewellery of Mughal era. ||||
| Best Make-up Artist | Naan Kadavul | Tamil | U. K. Sasi | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its wide variety of make-up inputs to reflect the large spectrum of characters. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Jogwa | Marathi | Ajay–Atul | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its well-researched use of traditional and folk music to reinforce the theme of the film. ||||
| Best Lyrics | Antaheen ("Pherari Mon") | Bengali | • Anindya Chatterjee • Chandril Bhattacharya | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its simple composition of verses to contribute meaningfully to the film. ||||
| Best Special Effects | Mumbai Meri Jaan | Hindi | Govardhan (Tata Elxsi) | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its stunning use of technical effects of visual shorts to mirror a man-made disaster. ||||
| Best Choreography | Jodhaa Akbar ("Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah") | Hindi | • Chinni Prakash • Rekha Prakash | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its extravagant and dreamlike treatment of celebrations on a magnificent scale. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Bioscope | Malayalam | • NFDC (Producer) • K. M. Madhusudhanan (Director) | ₹ 62,500/- Each |
| Citation: For its exciting revival of a sincerely personal style to look back on a chapter of history. ||||

#### 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 | Mon Jaai | Producer: Moirangthem Movies Director: M. Maniram | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its honest exploration of ethical values confronting the youth. |||
| Best Feature Film in Bengali | Shob Charitro Kalponik | Producer: Reliance Big Pictures Director: Rituparno Ghosh | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its poetic treatment of an individual sensitivities in a crisis. |||
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | Rock On!! | Producer: Excel Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Director: Abhishek Kapoor | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an emotional story of musical bonding. |||
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Vimukthi | Producer: Navyachitra Creations Director: P. Sheshadri | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For exploring different dimension of family ties. |||
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Thirakkatha | Producer: Varnachithra Big Screen Director: Ranjith | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its poignant story of an actress told with sincerity and conviction. |||
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Harishchandrachi Factory | Producer: UTV Motion Pictures Director: Paresh Mokashi | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its original of stylised recreation of a slice of history. |||
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Vaaranam Aayiram | Producer: V. Ravichandran Director: Gautham Vasudev Menon | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its engaging depiction of a father and son relationship. |||
| Best Feature Film in Telugu | 1940 Lo Oka Gramam | Producer: N. C. Narasimham Director: Narasimha Nandi | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its courageous handling of caste-based prejudices. |||
Best Feature Film in Each of the Languages 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 | Land Gold Women | Producer: Vivek Agrawal Director: Avantika Hari | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its intense depiction of the issue of honour killing. |||
| Best Feature Film in Kokborok | Yarwng | Producer: Joseph Kizhakechennadu Director: Joseph Pulinthanath | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a meaningful story of displaced people looking to rebuild their lives. |||
| Best Feature Film in Tulu | Gaggara | Producer: M. Durganand Director: Shivadhwaj Shetty | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its attempt to preserve traditional folk forms. |||

### 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 Aruna Raje Patil was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. The jury members were:
* Aruna Raje Patil (Chairperson) • Krishnendu Bose • Anirban Dutta • Sandeep Marwah • Reena Mohan • R. V. Ramani • Sarfaraz Siddiqui

#### 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 | AFSPA 1958 | Meitei and English | Producer: Bachaspa Timayun Sunzu and Haobam Paban Kumar Director: Haobam Paban Kumar | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a courageous depiction of the non-violent resistance of the people of Manipur to protest against a legislation, which undermines the values of self-respect and the fundamentals of democracy. The documentation process by various crews and the way it is chronicled offers multiple perspectives. ||||
| Best Non-Feature Film Direction | Three of Us | Only Music | Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: With immense sensitivity, the film offers a slice of life of a physically challenged person, which transcends into a telling cinematic practice of minimalism and control. A poetic exploration that breathes the indomitable spirit of these real characters playing themselves, way above its bleak mise-en-scene. ||||

#### 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 | Vitthal | Marathi | Producer: Vinoo Choliparambil and Manu Pushpendran Director: Vinoo Choliparambil | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a sensitive portrayal of the latent violence building up in a child against the ritualistic social norms which are forced on him. The filmmaker demonstrates maturity and dexterity in handling the script and the actors, bringing out the complexity of a child’s mind trapped in a world of adults. ||||
| Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film | Boliya Pitaier Sohoki Sootal | Assamese | Producer: Altaf Mazid, Zabeen Ahmed and Susanta Roy Director: Altaf Mazid | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a film which uniquely depicts the long arduous struggle of a community to build check dams using their indigenous engineering skills. An experiential journey which transcends documentation and makes the viewer participate in the process. ||||
| Best Biographical Film | The Assassination Of Rajiv Gandhi – A Reconstruction | English | Producer: Films Division Director: R. Krishna Mohan | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For traversing vast stretches of time and geographical space, this film deftly puts together strands of information, perception, evidence and historical contexts to reconstruct a compelling narrative about the gruesome assassination of a world leader. ||||
| Best Arts / Cultural Film | Karna Motcham | Tamil | Producer: MGR Film and TV Institute Director: S. Murali Manohar | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For using powerful imagery and ironical juxtaposition, the film depicts the life of a Koothu artist. With subtlety, it captures the frustration and the hopelessness of a performer whose art is a misfit in a changing cultural world. ||||
| Best Scientific Film | Trip | English | Producer: Film and Television Institute of India Director: Emmanuel Palo | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the film with a simple, almost lighthearted, treatment evolves into a powerful message of conservation. Using an unconventional music track and animation, the film jolts the viewer to relook at waste and pollution. ||||
| Best Promotional Film | Lost and Found | Marathi, English and Hindi | Producer: Harshavardhan G. Kulkarni, Kirti Nakhwa and Amitabh Shukla Director: Harshavardhan G. Kulkarni | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For using a bottle as a metaphor for a journey of discovery, the filmmaker finds an innovative style to explore various locations through people and their experiences, challenging the classical promotional style of selling tourism. ||||
| Best Agricultural Film | The Land Of Rupshupas | English | Producer: Films Division Director: A. K. Sidhpuri | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: With breath taking images of the higher Himalayas and the nomadic people living in this harsh climate and terrain, the film effectively explores the relationship of the Rupshupas with their livestock and how critical it is for their survival. ||||
| Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film | The Assassination Of Rajiv Gandhi – A Reconstruction | English | Producer: Films Division Director: R. Krishna Mohan | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For traversing vast stretches of time and geographical space, this film deftly puts together strands of information, perception, evidence and historical contexts to reconstruct a compelling narrative about the gruesome assassination of a world leader. ||||
| Best Film on Social Issues | The Female Nude | Hindi | Producer: Public Service Broadcasting Trust Director: Hemjyotika and Devi Prasad Mishra | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| ₹ 50,000/- Each |||
| Best Film on Social Issues | Buru Gaara | Hindi | Producer: Public Service Broadcasting Trust Director: Shriprakash | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| ₹ 50,000/- Each |||
| Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film | Polio Vs. Polio Victims | English, Hindi and Marathi | Producer: Gulshan Sachdeva Director: Aman Sachdeva | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an innovative campaign for the eradication of polio - the film follows the polio afflicted who take the initiative for mass awareness by going door to door. ||||
| Best Exploration / Adventure Film | Shingnaba | Meitei | Producer: Bachaspa Timayum Sunzu Director: Bachaspa Timayum Sunzu | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an inspiring portrayal of an HIV positive person who dramatically transforms his life and becomes a champion body builder. A first person narrative, it provides a new perspective on AIDS and our understanding of sports. ||||
| Best Investigative Film | Distant Rumblings | English | Producer: Ms. Rongsenkala Director: Bani Prakash Das | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For evoking painful memories of World War II as experienced by people of North East India, after the Japanese invasion. Through war wreckages found in the jungles and first person accounts, the film stitches together a moving story of affected families long forgotten. ||||
| Best Animation Film | Prince And The Crown Of Stones | English | Producer: Children's Film Society Director: Gautam Benegal Animator: Gautam Benegal | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a well knit theme-oriented film, complemented by 2D graphics and a restrained colour palette. A strong message about leadership emerges through the film making it relevant to the contemporary times. ||||
| Best Short Fiction Film | Stations | Hindi, Marathi and English | Producer: Film and Television Institute of India Director: Emmanuel Palo | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For weaving a complex contemporary form of expression, through fragmented stories of a few sparsely connected lives in transit, over an omnipresent dark urban reality of economic disparity, alienation, and bad faith. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Appuvin Nayagan - Spotty (My Hero) | Tamil | Producer: A.V.Anoop Director: Santosh Sethumadhavan | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For scoring with a very tender story that transforms into a moving portrayal of a child's attachment to her toy and her grandfather's dilemma when he loses it. A sensitive film that offers fresh insights into a child's imagination and needs. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Three Of Us | Only Music | Cameraman: Shariqva Badar Khan Laboratory Processing: Filmlab, Mumbai | ₹ 12,500/- Each |
| ₹ 12,500/- Each |||
| Best Cinematography | When This Man Dies | Hindi, English | Cameraman: Jayakrishna Gummadi Laboratory Processing: Adlabs Films Ltd. | ₹ 12,500/- Each |
| ₹ 12,500/- Each |||
| Best Audiography | Children Of The Pyre | Hindi | Re-recordist: Mateen Ahmad | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: With multiple layers of sound, and the incessant crackle of funeral pyres that cease to sleep, the film grips its audience with a sense of entrapment around the life of children working inside a cremation ground. It is a telling example of digetic sound design keeping its truth to the reality of the location. ||||
| Best Editing | Stations | Hindi, Marathi and English | Manoj Kannoth | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For a delicately interwoven edit of three sparsely connected contemporary urban tales of alienation. Developing a rhythm with parallel and simultaneous stories, the cutting sculpts an extremely powerful contemporary form. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Narmeen | Hindi and Punjabi | Vipin Mishra | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For a sensitive and evocative musical score, with an amazing use of the violin ensemble, which is both a deeply personal and universal experience. ||||
| Best Narration / Voice Over | Sana Keithel | English | Elangbam Natasha | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For a gentle and intimate voice which leads you to a great treasure house of insights on markets run by women in Manipur. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Children Of The Pyre | Hindi | Rajesh S. Jala (Director) | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: Constrained by the stifling and searing world of children working in cremation grounds, the film helps them to recreate a world of their own. The director captures rare reflexive moments of the children and makes the viewers live their pain, joys and dreams. ||||
| Special Mention | Vitthal | Marathi | Aniket Rumade (Child actor) | Certificate Only |
| Citation: For his excellent portrayal of a young boy, Vitthal, dealing with ritualistic norms forced on him and his struggle to contain the anger brewing within. ||||

### 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 Sunil Gangopadhyay was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. The jury members were:
* Sunil Gangopadhyay (Chairperson) • Sudhish Pachauri • Zia-us Salam

#### 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 | Bollywood Melodies | English | Author: Ganesh Anantharaman Publisher: Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd. | ₹ 75,000/- Each |
| Citation: For sailing down the mainstream of Hindi film music but manages to find rivulets of solace all his own. He blends substance with style, taking care not to appear too profound or flimsy. He brings out the lesser known aspects of popular Hindi film songs thereby infusing them with fresh dignity. Ganesh delves into the ragas of film songs, keeping some space for little banter between artists. ||||
| Best Film Critic | | English and Assamese | Altaf Mazid | ₹ 37,500/- Each |
| ₹ 37,500/- Each |||
| Best Film Critic | | Meitei | R. K. Bidur Singh | ₹ 37,500/- Each |
| ₹ 37,500/- Each |||

#### 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) | The Director's Mind | English | Ujjal Chakraborty | Certificate Only |
| Citation: For giving a fresh insight into the works of timeless luminaries. That is no mean achievement considering Ujjal talks of works of some of biggest film makers. Rather than confusing the readers with technical jargon, Ujjal brings to the fore the ethos of film making, revealing the masterpieces of past Masters. ||||

### Awards not given

The following awards were not given as no film was found to be suitable:
* Best Feature Film in Manipuri
* Best Environment / Conservation / Preservation Film
* Best Feature Film in Oriya
* Best Feature Film in Punjabi