# 52nd National Film Awards

The 52nd 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 2004.
The selection process of 52nd National Film Awards began with the constitution of three Juries for feature film, non-feature film and best writing on cinema sections. The filmmaker Sudhir Mishra headed the feature film Jury, which had sixteen other members. Cinematographer and Director A. K. Bir headed the seven-member non-feature film Jury. The Jury for best writing on cinema was headed by veteran film critic and former editor of Screen and Filmfare from Mumbai, Rauf Ahmed.
Awards were announced by each committee chairpersons on 13 July 2005. Award ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 21 October 2005 and awards were given by then President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
For 52nd National Film Awards, 107 feature films participated along with 118 non-feature films and 22 books on cinema in 9 Indian languages.

## 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 | | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | director | Swarna Kamal, ₹ 200,000 and a Shawl |

### Feature films

Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 52nd National Film Awards, a Hindi film, Page 3 won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film also winning the maximum number of awards (3), along with a Tamil film, Autograph. Following were the awards given in each category:

#### Juries

A committee headed by Sudhir Mishra was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Sudhir Mishra (Chairperson) • Preeti Sagar • Vanisri • Satabdi Roy • L. Vaidyanathan • Sandeep Sawant • Subhadro Chaudhury • Chandi Mukherjee
** Sharad Dutt • Bhajan Sopori • T. S. Nagabharana • Nagesh Kukunoor • Ranjeet Das • M. Sanjeev • M. Mohan • Vinod Ganatra • Vasantha S. M. A.

#### 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 | Page 3 | Hindi | Producer: Bobby Pushkarna director: Madhur Bhandarkar | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a complex and daring attempt which exposes the shallow world of Page 3 in a manner which is both savagely satirical yet gently ironical. ||||
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Grahanam | Telugu | Producer: N. Anji Reddy Director: Mohan Krishna Indraganti | ₹ 25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For invoking nostalgia in a manner that is powerful yet poetic. ||||
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Veer-Zaara | Hindi | Producer: Yash Raj Films Director: Yash Chopra | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For invoking a touching tale of love highlighting the importance of human relationship above man-made boundaries. ||||
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Autograph | Tamil | Producer: Cheran Director: Cheran | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For invoking nostalgia in a manner that is powerful yet poetic. ||||
| Best Children's Film | Chutkan Ki Mahabharat | Hindi | Producer: Children's Film Society Director: Sankalp Meshram | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| Citation: The film is phantasanagonic story of a boy whose dreams start coming true suddenly. All hell breaks loose when a Nautanki comes to village to play Mahabharata and suddenly its story changes. The warring Kaurvas and Pandavas bury their differences and become friends even before the war has begun. ||||
| Best Direction | Swapner Din | Bengali | Buddhadeb Dasgupta | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For his appropriate usage of metaphors and complex handling of socio political situation present in West Bengal in a language simultaneously cinematic and poetic. ||||

##### 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 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero | Hindi | Producer: Sahara India Media Communication Ltd. Director: Shyam Benegal | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| Citation: Netaji is one of the most controversial and colourful figures of modern Indian history. His struggle to fight the Britishers and bring the Indians together to do this. The idealistic dreamer turns into a revolutionary to achieve his goal. The film effectively brings alive the era. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Hasina | Kannada | Producer: Chiguru Chitra Director: Girish Kasaravalli | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| Citation: The film deals with a social evil of family planning in a Muslim community. The story of women and her children deserted by a drunkard husband is handled in a unique and subtle way. ||||
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Perumazhakkalam | Malayalam | Producer: Salim Padiyath Director: Kamal | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its deft handling of a complex, sensitive issue in a very sensitive manner. The central characters in the film reflect the traditional virtues of the Indian women, such as self-sacrifice, endurance and forgiveness, to bring two communities together. ||||
| Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation | Devrai | Marathi | Producer: Y. N. Oak | ₹ 30,000/- |
| Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation | Devrai | Marathi | Director: Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar | ₹ 15,000/- Each |
| Citation: In this chaotic world, when every body talks about the importance of environment, conservation and preservation but no body cares to learn from the wisdom of myth created by our forefathers and create a space for every mind to realise its potential without judging, discriminating or condemning. ||||
| Best Actor | Hum Tum | Hindi | Saif Ali Khan | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his sheer ease, subtlety and spontaneity in portraying a complex and demanding role. ||||
| Best Actress | Hasina | Kannada | Thaara | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For her powerful portrayal of a young Muslim wife boldly questioning the traditional laws of her community. Her ability to convey the range of various moods through her performance in a forceful manner is appreciated. ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | Krantikaal | Bengali | Haradhan Bandopadhyay | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his subtle yet powerful performance which is understated portraying a helpless bedridden old royal. ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Akale | Malayalam | Sheela | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the grace with which she handles the tragedy of a community that is slowly fading away. ||||
| Best Child Artist | Chhota Sipahi | Hindi | Om Bhutkar | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his gradual evolution from a naïve innocent young child to a patriot in the liberation movement of Goa. ||||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Swades ("Yeh Taara Woh Taara") | Hindi | Udit Narayan | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the song to honour his soulful rendition of this beautiful Rahman melody with imaging modulation. ||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Autograph ("Ovvoru Pookalume") | Tamil | K. S. Chithra | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For expressive and soulful rendition of the song with powerful voice throw suitable to the text and the scene. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Swades | Hindi | Cameraman: Mahesh Aney Laboratory Processing: Adlabs | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For his lens that captures the rural Indian landscape with reality and harshness. ||||
| Best Screenplay | Page 3 | Hindi | • Manoj Tyagi • Nina Arora | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For telling a complex story in a stunningly simple manner. It takes you into the empty shallow world of Page 3, in a manner which is funny yet deeply empathetic. ||||
| Best Audiography | Iti Srikanta | Bengali | Anup Mukhopadhyay | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For finest recordings of the sound in a superb way that lends an extra dimension to the film. ||||
| Best Editing | Page 3 | Hindi | Suresh Pai | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the crisp cutting which gives a finesse to the film and the successfully sustains the tempo of the film and mood and emotion while never losing the narrative. ||||
| Best Art Direction | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero | Hindi | Samir Chanda | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For effectively recreating the period prior to the second world war across nations. ||||
| Best Costume Design | Hasina | Kannada | • Ishrath Nissar • M. N. Swamy | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the costumes that lent a realistic feel to the characters thereby adding to their credibility. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Swarabhishekam | Telugu | Songs and Background Score: Vidyasagar | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the songs that are composed as per the situation and enrich the theme of the film. From the beginning to the end he has maintained traditional classical music and used Indian acoustic instruments thus bringing out the colour and flavor of Indian music. ||||
| Best Lyrics | Autograph ("Ovvoru Pookalume") | Tamil | P. Vijay | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For or meaningful and powerful lyrics generating hope for a better future. ||||
| Best Special Effects | Anji | Telugu | Sanath (Fire Fly Digital) | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For imaginative and effective creation of an outside world using special effects. ||||
| Best Choreography | Lakshya ("Main Aisa Kyu Hoon") | Hindi | Prabhu Deva | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his imaginative, spectacular and rhythmic dance composition. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Dancer | Tamil | J. Phillip (Actor) | ₹ 25,000/- |
| Citation: For his incredible acting and dance performance despite being a physically challenged person. ||||
| Special Mention | Des Hoyaa Pardes | Punjabi | Gurdas Maan (Actor) | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||
| Special Mention | Oridam | Malayalam | Pradeep Nair (Director) | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||

#### 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 | Dinabandhoo | Producer: Krishna Roy Director: Munin Barua | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a human struggle against circumstances, mainly because of dowry as well as social status. |||
| Best Feature Film in Bengali | Krantikaal | Producer: Shampa Bhattacharjee Director: Sekhar Das | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For dialectical portrayal of a terrorist’s critical encounter with a decadent Bengali royal culture trapped in a time wrap. |||
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | Raincoat | Producer: Shree Venkatesh Films Director: Rituparno Ghosh | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its subtle handling of human relationship in a low-keyed fashion yet mentioning the warmth of a lost love. |||
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Beru | Producer: Mitrachitra Director: P. Sheshadri | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For critical analysis of bureaucratic corruption through the eyes of a folk dancer and its ironic overtone. |||
| Best Feature Film in Konkani | Aleesha | Producer: Rajendra Talak Creations Director: Rajendra Talak | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its concern about pollution and protection at the same time exposing corruption. |||
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Akale | Producer: Tom George Kolath Director: Shyamaprasad | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its sensitive handling of characters trapped in tragic situation, in an unconventional filmic way. |||
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Uttarayan | Producer: Opticus Films Director: Bipin Nadkarni | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its portrayal of nostalgic love between two aged characters and their problems with the next generation. |||
| Best Feature Film in Punjabi | Des Hoyaa Pardes | Producer: Manjeet Maan Director: Manoj Punj | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its sharp handling of terrorism in Punjab and portrayal of alienation, migration of Punjabi youth to the west of that time. |||
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Navarasa | Producer: Sunil Doshi Director: Santosh Sivan | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its credible exploitation of the world of the third gender blended with director's own cinematic style. |||
| Best Feature Film in Telugu | Swarabhishekam | Producer: H. Gopalakrishna Murthy Director: K. Viswanath | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its excellent musical structure clubbed with great classical musical performance. |||
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 | Amu | Producer: Shonali Bose Director: Shonali Bose | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its innovative style of handling a girl’s search for her identity and her encounter with a scarred society. |||

### 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 A. K. Bir was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** A. K. Bir (Chairperson) • Kadambari Chintamani • Vasiraju Prakasam • Sudhish Gopalakrishnan • Supriyo Sen • Prasann Jain • Pushpesh Pant

#### 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 | Girni | Marathi | Producer: Tripurari Sharan for Film and Television Institute of India Director: Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For projecting the impact of noise over a child's mind with excellent visualisation and fine cinematic dramatisation. ||||
| Best Non-Feature Film Direction | Girni | Marathi | Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Citation: For portraying the impact of sound on a young and sensitive mind with excellent dramatic and cinematic style. ||||

#### 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 | Ek Sagar Kinaree... A Seaside Story | Marathi and English | Producer: Gomantar Marathi Academy Director: Laxmikant Shetgaonkar | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For handling the simple and delicate relationship between ordinary human beings in a very profound evocative and enterprising manner, within a commercialised compulsive atmosphere. ||||
| Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film | The Legend of Fat Mama | English | Producer: Rafeeq Ellias Director: Rafeeq Ellias | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For presenting a nostalgic journey of the Chinese community in Kolkata in a very lively and engrossing, and yet thought provoking moment. ||||
| Best Biographical Film | It's Prabhat | Marathi | Producer: A. V. Damle Director: Madhavi Vaidya | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For presenting the glorious history of Prabhat Film Company in a very engaging and fascinating manner through excellent compilation of the excerpts of some of the renowned old films of the company. ||||
| Best Scientific Film / Best Environment / Conservation / Preservation Film | Timeless Traveller-The Horseshoe Crab | English | Producer: Riverbank Studios Director: Gautam Pandey | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For venturing to explore the most enigmatic creature, very scientific and analytic manner effectively urging mankind to conserve this unique species. ||||
| Best Film on Social Issues | Dwijaa | Marathi | Producer: Tripurari Sharan for Film and Television Institute of India Director: Pankaj Purandare | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For presenting the distress of a child widow and her graduation over reality with subtle and sensitive cinematic treatment. ||||
| Best Exploration / Adventure Film | Shores of Silence – Whale Sharks in India | English | Producer: Gautam Pandey Director: Ranjana Pandey | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For capturing the cruelty of fisher-man over harmless sea-creature, the whale shark, along the Gujarat coast, with a fine insight and bravado, which could bring transformation to the ignorance of the fisherfock's mindless slaughter. ||||
| Best Investigative Film | Harvest of Hunger | English and Oriya | Producer: Action Aid India, Bhubaneshwar Director: Rupashree Nanda | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For portraying the apathy and the hardships of drought effected villagers from Bolangir District, and their struggle to survive under an atmosphere of compulsive exploitation in excellent investigative and poignant style. ||||
| Best Animation Film | Raju and I | English and Hindi | Producer: Aseema Charitable Trust Director: Gayatri Rao Animator: Chetan Sharma | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For depicting the emotional journey of a child and his experience and awareness of the social conditions through an excellent technique of animation. ||||
| Best Short Fiction Film | Cradle Song | English and Hindi | Producer: Tripurari Sharan for Film and Television Institute of India Director: Nimisha Pandey | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For exploring the mental agony of a couple, that has given birth to a crippled child in a very ethereal and stimulating cinematic style. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Saanjh | Hindi | Producer: Tripurari Sharan for Film and Television Institute of India Director: Jasmine Kaur | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a very sensitively structured short film which deals with the apathy of an old man and his encounter with reality. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Girni | Marathi | Cameraman: Manoj Raymond Lobo Laboratory Processing: Adlabs | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a short film which is highly enriched through excellent visual choreography. ||||
| Best Audiography | Kshy Tra Ghya | Hindi | Vivek | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For evolving an experimental form of narration within a story form, with excellent sound design. ||||
| Best Editing | Harvest of Hunger | English and Oriya | Prashant Naik | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For documenting with apathy of the drought stricken villagers, by fluent and flowing editing style, keeping the interest on the subject, very engaging. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Ek Sagar Kinaree... A Seaside Story | Marathi and English | Dhwani | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a short film which is extremely enhanced by the accompaniment of very throbbing and engaging music. ||||
| Best Narration / Voice Over | The Legend of Fat Mama | English | Yang Yen Thaw | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For communicates the nostalgic journey of the Chinese community in Calcutta through a moving narration, complying with the harmonious pace of the film. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Kshy Tra Ghya | Hindi | Amit Dutta (Director) | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For evolving an experimental form of narration within a story form, with excellent special visual effects in an innovative style. ||||

### 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 Rauf Ahmed was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Rauf Ahmed (Chairperson) • Utpal Borpujari • Shoma A. Chatterji

#### 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 | Stardust – Vignettes from the Fringes of Film Industry | English | Author: Roopa Swaminathan Publisher: Penguin Books | ₹ 15,000/- Each |
| Citation: For giving a rare, fascinating insight into the lives of people on the fringes of the film industry whose contribution to cinema is no less significant. The work is marked by painstaking research and incisive analysis that does not alienate the average cinema lover. ||||
| Best Film Critic | | | Namrata Joshi | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For consistently maintaining a high standard of film evaluation at a time when reviews are tending to become a public relations exercise. Her writings reveal a sound grasp of all aspects of film-making. ||||

### Awards not given

Following were the awards not given as no film was found to be suitable for the award:
* Best Feature Film in Manipuri
* Best Feature Film in Oriya
* Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film
* Best Arts / Cultural Film
* Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film
* Best Promotional Film
* Best Agricultural Film