# 55th National Film Awards

The 55th 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 2007.
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, Sai Paranjpye, for feature films and Ashoke Viswanathan along with Namita Gokhale for non-feature films and best writing on cinema sections, respectively.
Each chairperson announced the award on 7 September 2009 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 21 October 2009.

## 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 four eminent personalities from Indian film industry was appointed to evaluate the lifetime achievement award, Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Following were the jury members:
* Jury members
** Akkineni Nageswara Rao • Yash Chopra • Vijaya Mulay • Amjad Ali Khan
| Name of award | Image | Awardee(s) | Awarded as | Awards |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | | Manna Dey | Playback singer | Swarna Kamal, ₹ 1,000,000 and a shawl |

### Feature films

Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 55th National Film Awards, a Tamil film, Kanchivaram won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film; whereas a Hindi film, Gandhi, My Father won the maximum number of awards (3). Following were the awards given in each category:

#### Juries

A committee headed by Sai Paranjpye was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury members
** Sai Paranjpye (Chairperson) • Nemai Ghosh • Manju Borah • Ahsan Muzid • Arup Manna • Mohan Sharma • K. S. Sivaraman
** Rajendra Narayan Talak • Kesari Harvoo • Ervelle Menezes • Sibi Malayil • Sunny Joseph • Satya Paul • Pratibha Prahlad

#### 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 | Kanchivaram | Tamil | Producer: Percept Picture Company Director: Priyadarshan | ₹ 2,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For presenting a rare portrayal of Kanchi's silk weaver community, and the internal struggle of a weaver caught between his ideals and personal reams. A vibrant story and technical excellence blend to create a total cinematic experience. ||||
| Best Debut Film of A Director | Frozen | Hindi, Ladakhi | Producer: Shivajee Chandrabhushan Director: Shivajee Chandrabhushan | ₹ 1,25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For bringing to life with warmth and vivacity life in those distant desolate snow bound heights where existence itself is a fulltime challenge. ||||
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Chak De! India | Hindi | Producer: Aditya Chopra Director: Shimit Amin | ₹ 2,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For thoroughly entertaining the audience, making one proud to be an Indian. A masterpiece of inspired filmmaking. ||||
| Best Children's Film | Foto | Hindi | Producer: Children's Film Society Director: Virendra Saini | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For unfolding a magic world of images and sound to a talented young child by highlighting the milestones of cinema history in a lucid manner. ||||
| Best Animated Film | Inimey Nangathan | Tamil | Producer: S. Sridevi Director: S. Venky Baboo | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For creating endearing characters who with their breath taking quixotic antics, battle the evil force of greed, in a refreshingly new manner. For taking animation in a new direction. ||||
| Best Direction | Naalu Pennungal | Malayalam | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | ₹ 2,50,000/- |
| Citation: For his delicate and subtle handling of gender issues in a conventional society. Four women of different marital status are trivialised and subjected to abject neglect by their immediate partners and family. ||||

##### 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 | Dharm | Hindi | Producer: Sheetal V. Talwar Director: Bhavna Talwar | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For powerfully bringing forth the message that humanity is of much greater value than religion. The transformation of an orthodox and superstitious priest is very beautifully depicted. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Taare Zameen Par | Hindi | Producer: Aamir Khan Director: Aamir Khan | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For realistically depicting the psychological dialectic between an ordinary family driving their children to educational excellence, thereby neglecting their specially gifted child dealing with the problem of dyslexia in isolation. ||||
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Antardwand | Hindi | Producer: Sushil Rajpal Director: Sushil Rajpal | ₹ 1,50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For exposing the "marriages for sale" racket and dramatically presenting a browbeaten girl who finds her courage and her voice and rebels against her tyrannical father. ||||
| Best Actor | Kanchivaram | Tamil | Prakash Raj | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For his sensible multilayered portrayal of a weaver caught in a web of silken threads, woven by destiny. ||||
| Best Actress | Gulabi Talkies | Kannada | Umashree | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For a heart rending portrayal of the sorry plight of a wronged woman belonging to a minority community surrounded by an uncaring and hostile society. ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | Gandhi, My Father | • Hindi • English | Darshan Jariwala | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For truthfully portraying the angst of a great historical figure – Mahatma Gandhi. The Father of the Nation stands defeated in his personal relationship with his own son. ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | The Last Lear | English | Shefali Shah | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For her smoldering portrayal of a woman dealing with her intense relationship with an older man with a towering personality. ||||
| Best Child Artist | Tingya | Marathi | Sharad Goekar | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For covering the range from tenderness to angry defiance with consummate ease, while portraying Tingya – a boy whose love for his Ox is the driving force of his young life. ||||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Taare Zameen Par ("Maa") | Hindi | Shankar Mahadevan | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the plaintive rendition of a soulful song which is a musical expression of a theme which touches the heart. ||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Jab We Met ("Yeh Ishq Haaye") | Hindi | Shreya Ghoshal | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For her mellifluous voice and rich tonal quality. Her rendition evokes the beauty of nature through its subtle nuances. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Frozen | Hindi and Ladakhi | Cameraman: Shanker Raman Laboratory Processing: Deluxe Laboratories Inc. | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the artistic and technical excellence of cinematography revealed through superb reproduction of tonalities and stark compositions, maintaining the texture on high altitude. ||||
| Best Screenplay | Gandhi, My Father | • Hindi • English | Feroz Abbas Khan | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the imaginative and emotional handling of uncompromisingly steadfast side of the Father of the Nation with special reference to his relationship with his troublesome son. ||||
| Best Audiography | 1971 | Hindi | Kunal Sharma | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For capturing the mood and tension of that wartorn period which marked the climax of the deteriorating ties with our neighbours. ||||
| Best Editing | Naalu Pennungal | Malayalam | B. Ajith Kumar | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For presenting at a uniform pace four different stories which unfold as a single entity. ||||
| Best Art Direction | Om Shanti Om | Hindi | Sabu Cyril | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For creating authentic film settings of 1970s and recreating them in a dilapidated condition a generation later. ||||
| Best Costume Design | Krishnakanter Will | Bengali | Ruma Sengupta | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For creating realistic characters during that historic period when lavish costumes and colourful court life, were the order of the day. ||||
| Best Make-up Artist | Paradesi | Malayalam | Pattanam Rasheed | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For technical excellence of detailing through makeup the character of the protagonist. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Ore Kadal | Malayalam | Ouseppachan | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For achieving through music the poignancy of the turmoil of unconventional love. ||||
| Best Lyrics | Taare Zameen Par | Hindi | Prasoon Joshi | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the soulful poetry that captures the trauma of a family beset with a rare problem of their little son who is happily saved by an understanding teacher. ||||
| Best Special Effects | Sivaji | Tamil | M/s Indian Artists | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the pioneering effort of rendering tones and textures that assume realistic proportions. Turing dark skin tone to fair by painstaking computer graphic work is most convincingly done. ||||
| Best Choreography | Jab We Met ("Yeh Ishq Haaye") | Hindi | Saroj Khan | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the lively depiction of a colourful local hill song against a mountainous backdrop. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Gandhi, My Father | • Hindi • English | • Anil Kapoor (Producer) • Feroz Abbas Khan (Director) | ₹ 62,500/- Each |
| Citation: For throwing light on a relatively unknown aspect of the Father of the Nation and his stormy relationship with his difficult rebellious son, in a rare and compelling manner. ||||

#### 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 Bengali | Ballygunge Court | Producer: Ganesh Kumar Bagaria Director: Pinaki Chaudhuri | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For providing a powerful commentary on the travails of ageing in an urban milieu. |||
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | 1971 | Producer: Sagar Films (Pvt. Ltd.) Director: Amrit Sagar | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a sensitive depiction of the ordeal of Indian prisoners of war trapped between extreme hostility and official apathy in an alien land and showing fortitude in a hopeless situation. |||
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Gulabi Talkies | Producer: Basant Kumar Patil Director: Girish Kasaravalli | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For tracing the impact of new media on a fishing community of coastal Karnataka, against the backdrop of globalised business practices and growing communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims at the turn of the century. |||
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Ore Kadal | Producer: Vindhyan N. B. Director: Shyamaprasad | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a well crafted movie on the emotional conflict of a middle class housewife irresistibly drawn to a radical intellectual. |||
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Nirop | Producer: Aparna Dharmadhikari Director: Sachin Kundalkar | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an original offbeat film that gives a fresh perspective of the internal landscapes of the human mind. |||
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Periyar | Producer: M/s Liberty Creations Ltd. Director: Gnana Rajasekaran | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a biographical feature which takes on issues like superstition, untouchability, widow remarriage etc by forcefully depicting the life of the great social reformer Shri E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker popularly known as Periyar. |||
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 | The Last Lear | Producer: Arindam Chaudhuri Director: Rituparno Ghosh | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a brilliant and visually stunning work of cinema on the life of a reclusive Shakespearian actor, well past his prime. His whimsical and passionate persona makes him a memorable and loveable character. |||

### 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.

#### Juries

A committee headed by Ashoke Viswanathan was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Ashoke Viswanathan (Chairperson) • Prabhu Radhakrishnan • Rajendra Janglay • Jasmine K. Roy • Ashok Ogra • Ramesh Asher

#### 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 | Hope Dies Last In War | English and Hindi | Producer: Supriyo Sen Director: Supriyo Sen | ₹ 1,00,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its sensitive albeit searching exploration of those in prisons in alien countries; a complex polyphony of variegated voices, the film is an endeavour to find hope in the midst of a struggle against despair. ||||
| Best Non-Feature Film Direction | Vellapokathil | Malayalam | Jayaraj | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For his minimalist portrayal of the traumatic tale of a faithful canine. ||||

#### 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 | Lal Juto | Bengali | Producer: Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata Director: Shweta Merchant | ₹ 75,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its conventional handling of a renowned literary text. The element of surprise is presented in an effortless manner, spontaneous and full of miraculous madness. ||||
| Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film | Tai Phakey | English | Producer: Priyam Chaliha Director: Mridul Gupta | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For an honest portrayal of life and traditions of the minuscule Phakey community of the Northeast, which despite the influence of globalisation, continues to preserve its individual identity. ||||
| Best Biographical Film and Best Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film (Jointly given) | Antardhwani | Hindi | Producer: Films Division Director: Jabbar Patel | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For creatively bringing out the life and times of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma in his journey to revive the lost music of the Santoor and place it on the world stage. The pace and rhythm of the film is in tune with the melodious music of the Santoor. ||||
| Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation | Bhanga Ghara | Bengali | Producer: Film and Television Institute of India Director: Nilanjan Datta | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For championing the cause of environmental conservation. The film depicts the contrast between two regions of the Malda district as they come to terms with the inevitable flow of nature. While one faces the eroding onslaught of the river Ganga, the other renews itself to survive amidst the scarcity of water. ||||
| Best Film on Social Issues | Bagher Bacha | Bengali | Producer: Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute Director: Bishnu Dev Halder | ₹ 12,500/- Each |
| ₹ 12,500/- Each |||
| Best Film on Social Issues | Shifting Prophecy | English | Producer: Public Service Broadcasting Trust Director: Merajur Rahman Baruah | ₹ 12,500/- Each |
| ₹ 12,500/- Each |||
| Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film | Prarambha | Kannada | Producer: Santosh Sivan Director: Santosh Sivan | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For sensitively portraying the struggle faced by an HIV infected boy who is dismissed from school. The film takes a playful standpoint to inspire and instill a positive attitude towards this issue. ||||
| Best Investigative Film | The Journalist And A Jihadi | English | Producer: Ramesh Sharma Director: Ramesh Sharma and Ahmad Jamal | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For trying to uncover the sequence of events that led to the gruesome murder of the Wall-street journalist, Daniel Pearl. This film is very well researched and the investigation provides an insight into the working of a militant organisation. ||||
| Best Short Fiction Film | Udedh Bun | Bhojpuri | Producer: Film and Television Institute of India Director: Siddharth Sinha | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For creatively portraying a young boy's dilemma as he comes face to face with the temptations of life. The film evocatively explores the erotic under-currents in this coming of age tale. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Making The Face | English | Producer: Public Service Broadcasting Trust Director: Suvendu Chatterjee | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its multilayered exploration of the issue of alternative sexuality in a politically troubled state; celebrating this sexual orientation in a spontaneous manner, the film depicts it as a normal proclivity in a family setup. This, in no way, effects one's daily chores, particularly as the protagonist is a make-up artist of great acceptance. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Kramasha | Hindi | Cameraman: Savita Singh | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For her arresting use of lenses and lighting in the creation of a strange and magical world, full of a certain atmospheric dampness and mistiness, further enhanced by a consistent exhibition of striking cinematic compositions. ||||
| Best Audiography | Kramasha | Hindi | Ajit Singh Rathore | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the innovative sound design enhances the mood of the film and draws one into the magical ambience replete with fairy tales. ||||
| Best Editing | Hope Dies Last In War | English and Hindi | Saikat Ray | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For its creative blending of various elements of the past and present, as also for its seamless flow of images that evoke genuine emotions. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Echoes Of Silence | English and Khasi | Zubeen Garg | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the emptiness of Pori's world is enhanced through the effective use of music, which is understated yet powerful, thus blending seamlessly into the narrative. ||||
| Best Narration / Voice Over | Ayodhya Gatha | English and Hindi | Vani Subramanian | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For the powerful and humane narration of Ayodhya Gatha weaves together the story of Ayodhya - its past, present and uncertain future - in a manner that touches you without overpowering you. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Bhultir Khero | Bengali | • Amalan Datta (Producer) • Anirban Datta (Director) | ₹ 12,500/- Each |
| ₹ 12,500/- Each |||
| Special Jury Award | Poomaram | Malayalam | • Public Service Broadcasting Trust (Producer) • Vipin Vijay (Director) | ₹ 12,500/- Each |
| ₹ 12,500/- Each |||

### 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 Namita Gokhale was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Namita Gokhale (Chairperson) • Jerry Pinto • G. P. Ramachandran

#### 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 | From Raj to Swaraj: The Non-fiction Film In India | English | Author: B. D. Garga Publisher: Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd. | ₹ 75,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its engaged and illuminating study of non-feature cinema in its social, political and cultural context. ||||
| Best Film Critic | | Malayalam | V. K. Joseph | ₹ 75,000/- |
| Citation: For his intellectual and aesthetic integrity in writing about regional, national and world cinema. ||||

### Awards not given

Following were the awards not given as no film was found to be suitable for the award:
* Best Scientific Film
* Best Arts / Cultural Film
* Best Environment Film Including Agriculture
* Best Promotional Film
* Best Agricultural Film
* Best Non-Feature Animation Film
* Best Feature Film in Assamese
* Best Feature Film in Manipuri
* Best Feature Film in Oriya
* Best Feature Film in Punjabi
* Best Feature Film in Telugu
* Best Exploration / Adventure Film