# 33rd National Film Awards

The 33rd 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 1985. Ceremony took place in June 1986.

## 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. Shantaram | Actor, Film director and Film producer | Swarna Kamal, ₹ 1,00,000 and a Shawl |

### Feature films

Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 33rd National Film Awards, a Malayalam film, Chidambaram won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film, whereas Hindi film, New Delhi Times and Tamil film, Sindhu Bhairavi won the maximum number of awards (3). Following were the awards given in each category:

#### Juries

A committee headed by veteran actor Prem Nazir was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Prem Nazir (Chairperson) • J. P. Das • Jaya Bachchan • Komal Swaminathan • V. K. Madhavan Kutty • Prema Karanth • Bapu Watve • Gautam Ghose • Kanhaiya Lal Nandan (Not attended) • Gummadi (Not attended)

#### 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 | Chidambaram | Malayalam | Producer: Suryakanti Film Makers | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Best Feature Film | Chidambaram | Malayalam | Director: G. Aravindan | ₹ 25,000/- |
| Citation: For providing rare cinematic experience while delineating the inner conflicts and suffering of an individual set against the backdrop of the elements. ||||
| Best Debut Film of a Director | New Delhi Times | Hindi | Producer: P. K. Tiwari Director: Romesh Sharma | ₹ 25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a bold exposure of a murky world of politics where murder and mayhem are engineered for personal gains and truth becomes a casualty. ||||
| Best Children's Film | Aazadi Ki Ore | Hindi | Producer: Sangeethalaya | ₹ 30,000/- |
| Best Children's Film | Aazadi Ki Ore | Hindi | Director: P. S. Prakash | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For exploring man's cruelty to and exploitation of animals and, through an interesting story, inculcating in the minds of children the love of animals. ||||

##### Silver Lotus Award

Official Name: Rajat 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 on National Integration | Sree Narayana Guru | Malayalam | Producer: A. Jaffer | ₹ 30,000/- |
| Best Feature Film on National Integration | Sree Narayana Guru | Malayalam | Director: P. A. Backer | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For preaching, through the life of a great reformer, the universal values of "One Caste, One Religion and One God for Man". ||||
| Best Direction | Trikal | Hindi | Shyam Benegal | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Citation: For the masterly treatment of an unusual story which, through subtle and sensitive handling, brings out the conflicts in a family trapped in strange memories and situations. ||||
| Best Cinematography | New Delhi Times | Hindi | Subrata Mitra | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For inspired camera work which brings out the delicate nuances of light and shade resulting in a strong visual presentation. ||||
| Best Screenplay | Agnisnaan | Assamese | Bhabendra Nath Saikia | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the powerful rendering of the saga of a woman who goes through the revolution against the prevailing social mores and comes to terms with herself. ||||
| Best Actor | New Delhi Times | Hindi | Shashi Kapoor | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a convincing and credible portrayal of a dedicated journalist caught in the cross-currents of political manoevring. ||||
| Best Actress | Sindhu Bhairavi | Tamil | Suhasini Maniratnam | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For her superb performance in the difficult role of a woman who goes through life as lover and unwed mother who has finally to go back to her lonely existence. ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | Paroma | Bengali | Deepankar De | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a convincing portrayal of anguish of a husband who is unable to accept his wife. ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Rao Saheb | Hindi | Vijaya Mehta | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the delicate delineation of the role of a middle-aged widow fighting for modernity though herself rooted in tradition. ||||
| Best Child Artist | Bettada Hoovu | Kannada | Master Puneet | ₹ 5,000/- |
| Citation: For his lively and effortless performance in the role of a poor boy who has to make the difficult choice between his personal goal and his family responsibilities. ||||
| Best Audiography | Ek Pal | Hindi | Hitendra Ghosh | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his masterly use of the sound track in keeping with the atmosphere of the film. ||||
| Best Editing | Hum Naujawan | Hindi | Babu Sheikh | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his work in the film which, due to his slick editing becomes more effective. ||||
| Best Art Direction | Rao Saheb | Hindi | Sham Bhutkar | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the authentic creation of a setting of the early years of the century. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Sindhu Bhairavi | Tamil | Ilaiyaraja | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For innovative blending of folk and classical music which lends strength and power to the story. ||||
| Best Lyrics | Muthal Mariyathai | Tamil | Vairamuthu | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For imaginative use of folk images and form which blend with the pastoral and idyllic backdrop of the film. ||||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Sree Narayana Guru | Malayalam | Jayachandran | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his superb rendering of devotional songs keeping in tune with the subject matter of the film. ||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Sindhu Bhairavi | Tamil | K. S. Chithra | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For melifluous rendering of songs, both in the folk and the classical moulds, bringing about a melodious synthesis between the two. ||||
| Best Costume Design | Trikal | Hindi | Saba Zaidi | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For creatively designing the appropriate costumes for this period film, thereby lending authenticity to the milieu. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Mayuri | Telugu | Sudha Chandran | ₹ 5,000/- |
| Citation: For her work in the film in which, in her first screen appearance, she convincingly recreates her own life-story with courage and determination. ||||

#### 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 | Agnisnaan | Producer: Bhabendra Nath Saikia | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Assamese | Agnisnaan | Director: Bhabendra Nath Saikia | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a powerful film based on a well-known Assamese novel, portraying the ordeals of a woman who revolts and finally overcomes. |||
| Best Feature Film in Bengali | Parama | Producer: Nirmal Kumar Guha, Niharendu Guha, Sukhendu Guha, Sarojendu Guha | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Bengali | Parama | Director: Aparna Sen | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a film which handles sensitively the delicate story of a woman who refuses to accept the feeling of guilt forced on her by society. |||
| Best Feature Film in Bodo | Alayaron | Producer: Bodosa Film Productions | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Bodo | Alayaron | Director: Jwndgao Bodosa | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For pioneering a film in the language which faithfully brings out the socio-economic life of Bodo community. |||
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | Anantyatra | Producer: Nachiket Patwardhan | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | Anantyatra | Director: Nachiket Patwardhan and Jayu Patwardhan | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For an unusual film blending with fact and fantasy, dealing with the contemporary subject of the frustrations of middle-aged executive, presented with wit and humour. |||
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Bettada Hoovu | Producer: Parvathamma Rajkumar | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Bettada Hoovu | Director: N. Lakshminarayan | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a well-made film with a sensitive story of socio-economic deprivation told against a lyrical backdrop. |||
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Thinkalaazhcha Nalla Divasam | Producer: M. Mani | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Thinkalaazhcha Nalla Divasam | Director: P. Padmarajan | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For exploring the layers of family relationship in a rural setting threatened by urban culture and explains how the imminent breakdown of the joint family is prevented by a death. |||
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Pudhche Paool | Producer: Madhukar Rupji, Sudha A. Chitle and Vinay Newalkar | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Pudhche Paool | Director: Rajdutt | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a film with powerful social content, exposing the evil of dowry and underlining that the only solution is social censure. |||
| Best Feature Film in Oriya | Hakim Babu | Producer: Amiya Patnaik | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Oriya | Hakim Babu | Director: Pranab Das | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a film which makes a powerful comment on the bureaucratic system which renders even an idealistic officer helpless and unable to realise his own objectives. |||
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Muthal Mariyathai | Producer: Bharathiraja | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Muthal Mariyathai | Director: Bharathiraja | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a love story about the suffering of a man who is destined to live with his memories, spending his last days in a hut on the banks of river in idyllic surroundings. |||
| Best Feature Film in Telugu | Sravanthi | Producer: Jayakrishna | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Telugu | Sravanthi | Director: Kranthi Kumar | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a moving film, which depicts the plight of the quitessential Indian woman who goes through life discharging obligations as daughter, wife and mother. |||

### 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 M. V. Krishnaswamy was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** M. V. Krishnaswamy (Chairperson) • Satish Bahadur • T. M. Ramachandran • Pankaj Butalia

#### 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 | Bombay: Our City | English | Producer and Director: Anand Patwardhan | ₹ 15,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its deep concern for the problem of urban slums and the courageous presentation of the theme in an objective manner. ||||

#### 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 Anthropological / Ethnographic Film | The Whispering Wind | English | Producer: Director: Biplab Roy Choudhury | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its authentic and comprehensive depiction of the traditional life of the Dongria tribe of Orissa facing social change. ||||
| Best Biographical Film | Satyajit Ray | English | Producer: Films Division Director: Shyam Benegal | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| ₹ 10,000/- Each |||
| Best Biographical Film | The Seer Who Walks Alone | English | Producer and Director: G. Aravindan | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| ₹ 10,000/- Each |||
| Best Arts / Cultural Film | Warli Painting | English | Producer: B. R. Shendge Director: V. K. Wankhede | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a perceptive exploration of the relationship between the life and art of the warli tribals. ||||
| Best Scientific Film (including Environment and Ecology) | Power to the People | English | Producer: B. N. Mehra Director: K. Balakrishnan Nair | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its convincing portrayal of the importance of a people's movement for scientific attitude towards social change. ||||
| Best Industrial Film | Safety Measures in Handling Agriculture Machinery | English | Producer: D. Gautaman Director: Gurbir Singh Grewal | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its clear instructional value. ||||
| Best Agricultural Film | Cash In Cashew Cultivation | English | Producer: K. K. Garg Director: D. Gautaman | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its rich international content about the scientific development in the improvement of cashew crop. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Bai | Marathi | Producer: Streevani and Ishvani Director: Sumitra Bhave | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its realistic portrayal of poor, oppressed housewife who succeeds in her determined effort to rehabilitate herself and realise her potential to be on her own. ||||
| Best Exploration / Adventure Film | High Adventure on White Waters | English | Producer: Yash Choudhary Director: C. L. Kaul | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its depiction of the thrills of a new water sport in India. ||||
| Best News Review | News Magazine No.: 59 - Taranath Shenoy | English | Producer: P. B. Pendharkar and Pritam S. Arshi Director: M. S. Gangadhar and Ashok Patil | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an in-depth coverage of the strong determination of Taranath Shenoy, the handicapped swimmer, who crossed the English channel. ||||
| Best Animation Film | Karuna Ki Vijay | Hindi | Producer: Children's Film Society Director and Animator: K. S. Bansod | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its artistice excellence in the use of animation techniques in presenting a heart-warming story for children. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Bodhvriksha | Hindi | Rajan Khosa | ₹ 5,000/- |
| Citation: For his sensitive exploration of the anguish of a woman nursing her aged, paralysed grandmother. The film is characterised by economy and control and innovative cinematic form. ||||
| Special Mention | Prisoners of Circumstances | English | Producer: Film and Television Institute of India Director: Ramesh Handoo | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||
| Special Mention | Anukaran | Hindi | Producer: R. K. Gupta Director: Gul Bahar Singh | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||

### 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 Amita Malik was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Amita Malik (Chairperson) • N. N. Pillai • B. V. Dharap

#### 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 Book | Language | Awardee(s) | Cash Prize |
| Best Book on Cinema | Guru Dutt: Teen Anki Shokantika | Marathi | Author: Arun Khopkar | ₹ 5,000/- |
| Citation: For a book as it is a major critical work on Guru Dutt, which is researched, attractively published at a reasonable price with a wealth of visual which enriches any book on cinema. ||||

### Awards not given

Following were the awards not given as no film was found to be suitable for the award:
* Best Feature Film with Mass Appeal, Wholesome Entertainment and Aesthetic Value
* Best Film on Family Welfare
* Best Film on Other Social Issues
* Best Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film
* Second Best Feature Film
* Best Feature Film in Manipuri
* Best Feature Film in Punjabi
* Best Promotional Film
* Best Film Critic