# 41st National Film Awards

The 41st 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 1993. Ceremony took place in 1994.
With 41st National Film Awards, a new award for Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction was introduced for non-feature films section 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 | Image | Awardee(s) | Awarded As | Awards |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | | Majrooh Sultanpuri | Lyricist | Swarna Kamal, ₹ 100,000 and a Shawl |

### Feature films

Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 41st National Film Awards, a Bengali film, Charachar won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film whereas an Urdu film, Muhafiz along with a Malayalam film, Ponthan Mada won the maximum number of awards (4). Following were the awards given in each category:

#### Juries

A committee headed by T. Subbarami Reddy was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** T. Subbarami Reddy (Chairperson) • Gautam Bora • Madhabi Mukherjee • Salil Chowdhury • Bidhu Bhusan Das • Hariharan • Sitakant Misra • Nachiket Patwardhan • J. L. Ralhan • B. Narsing Rao • R. C. Sakthi • Valampuri Somanathan • Vijaya

#### 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 | Charachar | Bengali | Producer: M/s Gope Movies Pvt Ltd. | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Best Feature Film | Charachar | Bengali | director: Buddhadeb Dasgupta | ₹ 25,000/- |
| Citation: For its poetic and typical representation of the eternal human longing for liberation and man's alienation from Nature. ||||
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Sunya Theke Suru | Bengali | Producer: H. Das, Madhumanti Maitra and M. Das Director: Ashoke Viswanathan | ₹ 25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its creative handling of sensitive subject, exhibiting the socio-political situation of out society, spanning three decades. ||||
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Manichitrathazhu | Malayalam | Producer: Appachan | ₹ 40,000/- |
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Manichitrathazhu | Malayalam | Director: Fazil | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Citation: For handling an unusual subject of psychological aberration in a conservative society and the ultimate acceptance of a modern approach. ||||
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Darr | Hindi | Producer: Yash Chopra | ₹ 40,000/- |
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Darr | Hindi | Director: Yash Chopra | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Citation: For its convincing presentation of the theme of love, which has been rendered complex by its relationship with past experiences of fear. ||||
| Best Children's Film | Lavanya Preeti | Oriya | Producer: National Center of Films for Children and Young People | ₹ 30,000/- |
| Best Children's Film | Lavanya Preeti | Oriya | Director: A. K. Bir | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For its subtle and delicate exposition of the growing-up process from childhood to adolescence through the use of myths and striking visuals. ||||
| Best Direction | Ponthan Mada | Malayalam | T. V. Chandran | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For a masterly rendering of a whole range of human experience into celluloid poetry. ||||

##### 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 | Sardar | Hindi | Producer: Haribhai M. Patel | ₹ 30,000/- |
| Best Feature Film on National Integration | Sardar | Hindi | Director: Ketan Mehta | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For presenting a panoramic view of India in a period of transition to reveal the goals of nationalism by the integration of a mass disparate materials and shaping them into a coherent saga of Indian nationalism in an epic style. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Akashadoothu | Malayalam | Producer: Anupama Cinema | ₹ 30,000/- |
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Akashadoothu | Malayalam | Director: Siby Malayil | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For the urgency of family welfare through human love and compassion. ||||
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Janani | Bengali | Producer: Sanat Dasgupta | ₹ 30,000/- |
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Janani | Bengali | Director: Sanat Dasgupta | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For its delicate portrayal of an obscurantist practice like witchcraft, prevalent in certain parts of the country. ||||
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Naaraayam | Malayalam | Producer: Raju Pilakat | ₹ 30,000/- |
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Naaraayam | Malayalam | Director: Sasi Shanker | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For its subdued depiction of the possibilities of realising communal harmony. ||||
| Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation | Devara Kadu | Kannada | Producer: Pattabhirami Reddy Productions | ₹ 30,000/- |
| Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation | Devara Kadu | Kannada | Director: Pattabhirami Reddy Tikkavarapu | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For presenting the two themes of "Back to Village" and "Preservation of Nature" by an imaginative use of myths and legends. ||||
| Best Actor | • Ponthan Mada • Vidheyan | Malayalam | Mammootty | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his sensitive portrayal in the film Ponthan Mada of the role of an outsider and in Vidheyan for the depiction of the relationship of power and terror at an existential level. ||||
| Best Actress | Manichithrathazhu | Malayalam | Shobana | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For her unusual capacity to reveal complex nuances of a variety of human emotions. ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | • Woh Chokri • Sir | Hindi | Paresh Rawal | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his performances in the films to reveal contradictory human emotions at the outer and inner levels. ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Woh Chokri | Hindi | Neena Gupta | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a realistic portrayal of a loving mother and a betrayed wife, revealing shades of love, hate and anxiety. ||||
| Best Child Artist | Lavanya Preeti | Oriya | Tarasankar Misra | ₹ 5,000/- |
| Citation: For depicting successfully the process of growing up from childhood to adolescence and the first awareness of sexuality. ||||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Sopanam | Malayalam | K. J. Yesudas | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his superb capacity to render a variety of moods by means of a rich and melodious voice, which is capable of delineating both the range and depth of human emotions. ||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke | Hindi | Alka Yagnik | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For her ability to identify herself with the characters and render the delicate nuances of human feelings in complex situations. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Ponthan Mada | Malayalam | Cameraman: Venu Laboratory Processing: Prasad Film Laboratories | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the masterly use of the camera, in order to capture the feel of the background, setting, atmosphere of the subject and making use of striking visuals to communicate the theme. ||||
| Best Screenplay | Uttoran | Bengali | Satyajit Ray (Posthumously) | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For designing and structuring a screenplay from an imaginative and aesthetic angle, with a superb control over the unity of impressions. ||||
| Best Audiography | Mahanadhi | Tamil | • H. Sridhar • K. M. Surya Narayan (M/s Media Artiste Pvt. Ltd) | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For their capacity to the use of technique to contribute to the total effect of the film as an audio-visual gestalt. ||||
| Best Editing | Sardar | Hindi | Renu Saluja | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For combining expertise with artistry in a diverse and disparate series of sequences into a memorable experience of epic cinema. ||||
| Best Art Direction | Muhafiz | Urdu | Suresh Sawant | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For recreating architecture, landscape and interiors of exceptional beauty and cinematic integrity, synchronised to perfection with the thematic content of the protagonist's search for the poetry of an ailing maestro. ||||
| Best Costume Design | Muhafiz | Urdu | Loveleen Bains | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For recreating an entire spectrum of costumes, representing not only the protagonist, the ageing litterateur and his closeted world, but the entire milieu of the city and the small town. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Ponthan Mada | Malayalam | Johnson | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his music, which exhibits imagination, competence and presentation of the changing contours of music from traditional to modern styles. ||||
| Best Lyrics | Mathru Devo Bhava ("Raalipoye Puvva") | Telugu | Veturi | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his lyric "Raalipoye Puvva", which demonstrates his poetic imagination, enriched by his deep experience of life and a consequential competence in using language with felicity. ||||
| Best Special Effects | Thiruda Thiruda | Tamil | Sethu | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For professional and apt handling of spectacular scenes on a large scale, contributing significantly to the overall impact of the film. ||||
| Best Choreography | Thiruda Thiruda | Tamil | Sundaram | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the orchestration of scores of dancers in unison, with massive sets, stunning light effects and foot thumping music. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Muhafiz | Urdu | Shashi Kapoor | ₹ 25,000/- Each |
| ₹ 25,000/- Each |||
| Special Jury Award | Woh Chokri | Hindi | Pallavi Joshi | ₹ 25,000/- Each |
| ₹ 25,000/- Each |||
| Special Mention | Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke | Hindi | • Tahir Hussain (Producer) • Mahesh Bhatt (Director) | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||
| Special Mention | Indradhanura Chhai | Oriya | • Jugal Debata (Producer) • Susant Mishra (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 | Abartan | Producer: Bhabendra Nath Saikia | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Assamese | Abartan | Director: Bhabendra Nath Saikia | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a successful experiment in the dramatic technique of a play-within-a-play to reveal the relationship of appearances to reality. |||
| Best Feature Film in Bengali | Antareen | Producer: NFDC and Doordarshan | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Bengali | Antareen | Director: Mrinal Sen | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a sensitive exploration of modern man's loneliness and the failure of human communication in a dehumanised civilization. |||
| Best Feature Film in Gujarati | Manvini Bhavai | Producer: Aashish Trivedi and Upendra Trivedi | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Gujarati | Manvini Bhavai | Director: Upendra Trivedi | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For depicting the drought-torn lives of villagers through the eyes of the protagonist. |||
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | Patang | Producer: Sanjay Sahay and Durba Sahay | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | Patang | Director: Gautam Ghose | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For a restrained and symbolic portrayal of love and betrayal and of the various layers of moral corruption, which overpower the lives of innocents. |||
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Chinnari Mutha | Producer: Nagini Nagabharana, Saroja and Nandakumar | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Chinnari Mutha | Director: T. S. Nagabharana | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For an imaginative rendering of a child's growing-up process, in terms of the widening ambiance of human life. |||
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Vidheyan | Producer: K. Ravindran Nair | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Vidheyan | Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For its in-depth handling and complex delineation of the psychological evolution of two characters, representative of the transformation of terror into power and its hold over the life of the existentialist outsider. |||
| Best Feature Film in Manipuri | Sambal Wangma | Producer: Sobita Devi | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Manipuri | Sambal Wangma | Director: K. Ibohal | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For correlating the integration of Man with Nature for the development of the human personality. |||
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Lapandav | Producer: Sachin Parekar and Sanjay Parekar | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Lapandav | Director: Shraboni Deodhar | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For its clever portrayal of comedy of errors, cutting across the generation gap and for its charming depiction of puppy-love, extending from the campus to the homes of today's youth, in a refreshing directorial debut. |||
| Best Feature Film in Oriya | Aranya Rodan | Producer: Prasan Prusti | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Oriya | Aranya Rodan | Director: Biplab Ray Chaudhuri | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For its very sensitive and cinematic handling of an urban journalist's quest to understand the complexities of tribal life, seen through the eyes of an orphaned boy. |||
| Best Feature Film in Punjabi | Kachehri | Producer: Vijay Tandon | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Punjabi | Kachehri | Director: Ravindra Peepat | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For highlighting the vulnerability of the judicial system, in which sometimes justification prevails over justice. |||
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Mahanadhi | Producer: S. A. Rajkannu | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Mahanadhi | Director: Santhana Bharathi | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For depicting the aspiration and frustrations of the protagonist, his separation from reunion with his children, spanning a vast canvas of various cinema skills put together into an epic saga of a struggle against justice. |||
| Best Feature Film in Telugu | Mister Pellam | Producer: Gavara Partha Sarathi | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Telugu | Mister Pellam | Director: Bapu | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For its satirical exploration of the myth of the male ego, being superior to that of female. |||
| Best Feature Film in Urdu | Muhafiz | Producer: Wahid Chowhan | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Urdu | Muhafiz | Director: Ismail Merchant | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: A breath-taking film, uniting the various film arts, crafts and technical skills into an integrated experience, with lasting images of a dying culture, in which a humanistic vision of life is being undermined by encroachment from acquisitive commercialism. |||
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 Kodava | Mandhara Phu | Producer: B. N. Ravishankar | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Kodava | Mandhara Phu | Director: S. R. Rajan | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For depicting how unusual parental love affects children's life adversely too. |||
| Best Feature Film in Tulu | Bangara Patler | Producer: Richard Castellano | ₹ 20,000/- |
| Best Feature Film in Tulu | Bangara Patler | Director: Richard Castellano | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For depicting how money-power can take away everything from a simple and innocent community of villagers, using muscle power and political force. |||

### 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 Bikram Singh was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Bikram Singh (Chairperson) • Gulzar • Paresh Mehta • K. R. Mohanan • Tanusree Shankar

#### 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 | Maihar Raag | Bengali | Producer: Sunil Shanbag Director: Arun Bhattacharjee | ₹ 15,000/- Each |
| Citation: For presenting a candid and spontaneous portrayal of the decay of our heritage, as it is being engulfed by clouds of heartless commercialism. ||||

#### 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 | Bazar Sitaram | Hindi | Producer: Neena Gupta for Films Division Director: Neena Gupta | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For presenting a delicate and sensitive portrayal of the culture, traditions and milieu of Old Delhi as a personalised experience. ||||
| Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film | Ladakh – Life Along the Indus | English | Producer: Bappa Ray Director: Bappa Ray | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a visually enchanting depiction of the life patterns of the people living along the River Indus in Ladakh, with rich details emerging from their environment. ||||
| Best Biographical Film | Colors of Absence | English | Producer: Shanta Gokhale and Arun Khopkar Director: Arun khopkar | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a beautifully crafted and successful presentation of the biography of the painter, Jehangir Sabavala, through his work. The sound design of the film has also been meticulously conceived. ||||
| Best Arts / Cultural Film | Anukampan | Hindi | Producer: Balaka Ghosh Director: Balaka Ghosh | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For focussing attention on a unique intermingling of classical and folk dance traditions which is in danger of extinction through an appealing film form. ||||
| Best Environment / Conservation / Preservation Film | Orchids of Manipur | Meitei | Producer: Tomchou Singh Director: Aribam Syam Sharma | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a colourful and extremely aesthetic presentation of the exalting abundance of the wild orchids of Manipur. ||||
| Best Promotional Film | Timeless India | English | Producer: Zafar Hai Director: Zafar Hai | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For taking the viewer through a visually beautiful experience of the landmass called India, in all its varied colours and variety. ||||
| Best Agricultural Film | Building From Below | English | Producer: N. G. Hegde Director: Vishram Revankar | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For demonstrating the prime importance of human development along with basic agricultural development activities. ||||
| Best Film on Social Issues | The Women Betrayed | English | Producer: Sehjo Singh and Anwar Jamal Director: Sehjo Singh | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the critical presentation of the phenomenon of witches and witch-hunting, provoked by forces within and outside, which is symbolic of the exploitation of a tribal community. ||||
| Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film | AIDS | Malayalam | Producer: Nooranad Ramachandran, Ganesh Babu and Ochira Sathar Director: Nooranad Ramachandran | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For presenting information on this disease in a simple, straightforward and direct manner. ||||
| Best Exploration / Adventure Film | The Splendour of Garhwal and Roopkund | English | Producer: The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Director: Victor Banerjee | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an imaginatively told and poetically picturised exploration of Garhwal and Roopkund. ||||
| Best Investigative Film | Benefit For Whom at Whose Cost? | English | Producer: Dinesh Lakhanpal Director: Dinesh Lakhanpal | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a well researched and detailed investigation of the fears and tribulations of the people living under the looming shadow of a long-delayed multipurpose hydel project. ||||
| Best Animation Film | Chetak | Hindi | Producer: National Center of Films for Children and Young People Director: V. G. Samant Animator: V. G. Samant | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For bringing alive the legendary horse in a most charming manner. ||||
| Best Short Fiction Film | Sunday | Hindi | Producer: National Center of Films for Children and Young People Director: Pankaj Advani | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For taking a total holiday from logic and inhibitions and creating a most entertaining and humorous fantasy which, with all its improbabilities, will succeed in casting a spell on its audiences. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Taveez | Hindi | Producer: Rajeev Mohan for Films Division Director: Purushottam Berde for Films Division | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For promoting the small family norm in a direct and effective manner. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Moksha | Bengali | Cameraman: Piyush Shah | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For documenting a tragic reality with all its moods and emotions. ||||
| Best Audiography | Maihar Raag | Bengali | Indrajit Neogi | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For extremely imaginative and conceptual use of location sounds to depict the crumbling heritage of the Maihar orchestra. ||||
| Best Editing | Colors of Absence | English | Rajesh Parmar | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For smooth, precise and excellently edited work, which gives the film its unique rhythm, in keeping with its form and content. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Sunday | Hindi | Rajat Dholakia | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For contributing significantly to the mood of fantasy which pervades the film through refreshing music, with innovative use of the human voice. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Tragedy of an Indian Farmer | English | Murali Nair (Director) | ₹ 10,000/- |
| ₹ 10,000/- |||
| Special Jury Award | Death of a Prodigal Son | Hindi, English | Mahesh Thottathil (Director) | ₹ 10,000/- |
| ₹ 10,000/- |||

### 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 Khalid Mohamed was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Khalid Mohamed (Chairperson) • Udaya Tara Nayar • Uma Vasudev

#### 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 | Naalo Nenu | Telugu | Author: Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Publisher: K. N. T. Sastry | ₹ 15,000/- Each |
| Citation: Her riveting autobiography provides an insight into the working of the Telugu film industry, while tracing her fascinating life and career, written with candour and in an immensely fluent style, the book undergoes the independent spirit of a woman in an excessively male dominated system of the show business. The lively and self-analytical work is a rare phenomenon in a field, where artistes seem to be unnecessarily hesitant to author their life stories ||||
| Best Film Critic | | Bengali | Pritiman Sarkar | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: His articles are fine example of serious film criticism. Scholarly and sensitive to minute details of films, he has distilled years of his experience as a film society enthusiast into his writing. The jury was impressed by his insights and his love for cinema as an art form ||||

### Awards not given

Following were the awards not given as no film was found to be suitable for the award:
* Best Non-Feature Film Direction
* Best Scientific Film
* Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film