# 51st National Film Awards

The 51st 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 2003.
Awards were announced by the committee headed by Basu Chatterjee, Bhimsain and K. N. T. Sastry for the feature films, non-feature films and books written on Indian cinema, respectively, on 14 August 2004; whereas award ceremony took place on 3 February 2005 and awards were given away by then President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
With 51st National Film Awards, new category for Non-feature Film for Best Narration / Voice Over was introduced and 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 | | Mrinal Sen | director | Swarna Kamal, ₹ 200,000 and a Shawl |

### Feature films

Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 51st National Film Awards, a Marathi film, Shwaas won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film; whereas three Bengali films, Abar Aranye , Bhalo Theko and Chokher Bali, along with a Hindi film, Koi... Mil Gaya won the maximum number of awards (3). Following were the awards given in each category:

#### Juries

A committee headed by Basu Chatterjee was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Basu Chatterjee (Chairperson) • Vijaya Nirmala • N. Krishnakumar (Unni) • Sumalatha • K. B. Tilak • Shailaja Bajpai • Virendra Saini
** Madhu Jain • Rashmi Doraiswamy • Gayatri Chatterjee • Raj Datt • Makhonmani Mongsaba • Sher Choudhary • Mohan Kondajji
** Alaya Kumar Mohanty • Jyoti Sarup • Nimmala Shankar

#### 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 | Shwaas | Marathi | Producer: Arun Nalawade director: Sandeep Sawant | ₹ 50,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its sensitive and moving portrayal of the relationship between a grandfather and his grandson when the child is about to lose his vision. ||||
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Margam | Malayalam | Producer: Rajiv Vijay Raghavan Director: Rajiv Vijay Raghavan | ₹ 25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For poignantly capturing the troubled journey of a middle-aged individual re-examining his political past in the light of prevailing socio-political values. ||||
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. | Hindi | Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra Director: Rajkumar Hirani | ₹ 40,000/- Each |
| Citation: For dealing with social issues with humor and compassion. ||||
| Best Children's Film | Tora | Assamese | Producer: Children's Film Society Director: Jahnu Barua | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| Citation: For showing how a child brings down the boundaries and barriers created by adults. ||||
| Best Direction | Abar Aranye | Bengali | Gautam Ghose | ₹ 50,000/- |
| Citation: For his complex weaving of human destines across a wide range of socio-political and cinematic histories. ||||

##### 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 | Pinjar | Hindi | Producer: Lucky Star Entertainment Ltd Director: Chandraprakash Dwivedi | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| Citation: For exploring the power of human relationships in overcoming social and religious schisms. ||||
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam | Malayalam | Producer: Aryadan Shaukat Director: T. V. Chandran | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| Citation: For raising a voice against early marriage and for its advocacy of women's education in a conservative society. ||||
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Koi... Mil Gaya | Hindi | Producer: Rakesh Roshan Director: Rakesh Roshan | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| ₹ 30,000/- Each |||
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Gangaajal | Hindi | Producer: Prakash Jha Director: Prakash Jha | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| ₹ 30,000/- Each |||
| Best Film on Environment / Conservation / Preservation | Juye Poora Xoon | Assamese | Producer: Sanjib Sabhapandit Director: Sanjib Sabhapandit | ₹ 30,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its representation of large-scale migration and the erosion of a way of life by floods and industrialisation. ||||
| Best Actor | Pithamagan | Tamil | Vikram | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his powerful performance in a difficult and demanding role. ||||
| Best Actress | Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam | Malayalam | Meera Jasmine | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For her sustained and subtle portrayal of a young girl trapped in an early, polyandrous marriage and her ability to convey her little joys and large sorrows. ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | Maqbool | Hindi | Pankaj Kapoor | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his riveting yet understated performance as a mafia don. ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Abar Aranye | Bengali | Sharmila Tagore | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the grace with which she handles social and personal relationships. ||||
| Best Child Artist | Shwaas | Marathi | Ashwin Chitale | ₹ 5,000/- Each |
| ₹ 5,000/- Each |||
| Best Child Artist | Ente Veedu Appoontem | Malayalam | Kalidasan | ₹ 5,000/- Each |
| ₹ 5,000/- Each |||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Kal Ho Naa Ho ("Kal Ho Naa Ho") | Hindi | Sonu Nigam | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his memorable rendition of the title song that captures the spirit of the film. ||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Akashitorar Kothare | Assamese | Tarali Sarma | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For her tuneful rendition of a devotional song without instrumental accompaniment. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Bhalo Theko | Bengali | Cameraman: Abhik Mukhopadhyay Laboratory Processing: Rainbow Color Lab | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For enriching the narrative with tranquility and beauty. ||||
| Best Screenplay | Abar Aranye | Bengali | Gautam Ghose | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For weaving together the strands of time creating a resonant dialogue between the past and the present. ||||
| Best Audiography | Bhalo Theko | Bengali | • Anup Mukhopadhyay • Deepon Chatterjee | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the innovative use of sound, its quality and timbre. ||||
| Best Editing | Samay: When Time Strikes | Hindi | Aarif Sheikh | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For its crisp cutting that successfully sustains the tempo of the film's suspense. ||||
| Best Art Direction | Chokher Bali | Bengali | Indranil Ghosh | ₹ 5,000/- Each |
| ₹ 5,000/- Each |||
| Best Art Direction | Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities | Hindi | Sharmishta Roy | ₹ 5,000/- Each |
| ₹ 5,000/- Each |||
| Best Costume Design | Chokher Bali | Bengali | • Bibi Ray • Sushanto Pal | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For evoking a period in harmony with the spirit of the film's art direction. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Kal Ho Naa Ho | Hindi | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For its wide range of styles and modes, enriching the themes of the film. ||||
| Best Lyrics | Tagore ("Nenusaitham") | Telugu | Suddala Ashok Teja | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For relating Sri Sri's poem to contemporary times in order to awaken the masses against social evils. ||||
| Best Special Effects | Koi... Mil Gaya | Hindi | • Creator Bimmini Special Fx and Design Studios – James Colmer and Lara Denman • Digital Art Media – Marc Kolbe and Craig Mumma | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For its apt incorporation of special effects in its depiction of fantasy. ||||
| Best Choreography | Koi... Mil Gaya ("Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala") | Hindi | Farah Khan | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For its seamless weaving of different dance styles, in the best traditions of the musical. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Pinjar | Hindi | Manoj Bajpai (Actor) | ₹ 12,500/- |
| Citation: For his portrayal of the dilemma of a man caught between the dictates of his community and his love for his wife. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Bhalo Theko | Bengali | • Roopkatha (Producer) • Goutam Halder (director) | ₹ 6,250/- Each |
| Citation: For its quiet but masterful foray into the new cinematic idioms. ||||
| Special Mention | Mouni | Kannada | H. G. Dattatreya (Actor) | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||
| Special Mention | | Malayalam | Nedumudi Venu (Actor) | 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 | Akashitarar Kathare | Producer: Sangeeta Tamuli Director: Manju Borah | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its juxtaposition of a woman's search for her cultural heritage and its loss. |||
| Best Feature Film in Bengali | Chokher Bali | Producer: Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni Director: Rituparno Ghosh | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its operatic play of passions, breaking social norms and taboos. |||
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | Raghu Romeo | Producer: NFDC Director: Rajat Kapoor | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a zestful spoof of popular culture where the boundaries of illusion and reality collapse and the common man turns into hero. |||
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Preethi Prema Pranaya | Producer: Kavitha Lankesh Director: Kavitha Lankesh | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For depicting the contrasting values of three generations in a light hearted manner. |||
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Saphalam | Producer: Anil Thomas Director: Asok R. Nath | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its sensitive portrayal of an old couple in their loneliness and togetherness. |||
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Not Only Mrs. Raut | Producer: Aditi Deshpande Director: Gajendra Ahire | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its treatment of two women's struggle against male exploitation and domination. |||
| Best Feature Film in Odia | Aw Aaakare Aa | Producer: Subash Das Director: Subash Das | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a passionate call for reforms in the present education system. |||
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Iyarkai | Producer: V. R. Kumar Director: S. P. Jananathan | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a rich visual portrayal of a love story set against a unique canvas. |||
| Best Feature Film in Telugu | Aithe | Producer: Gangaraju Gunnam Director: Chandra Sekhar Yeleti | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its portrayal of frustration in the youth, successfully solving it through a positive approach almost making the characters role models. |||
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 | Dance Like A Man | Producer: NFDC Director: Pamela Rooks | ₹ 20,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a human drama that engages issues of creativity and gender dynamics. |||

### 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 Bhim Sen was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** Bhim Sen (Chairperson) • Jose Sebastian • Satyabrata Kalita • Haimanti Banerjee • Rajiv Khandagle • N. S. Shankar • Anwar Jamal

#### 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 | War and Peace | English | Producer: Anand Patwardhan Director: Anand Patwardhan | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| ₹ 10,000/- Each |||
| Best Non-Feature Film | Kaya Poochhe Maya Se | Hindi | Producer: Arvind Sinha Director: Arvind Sinha | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| ₹ 10,000/- Each |||
| Best Non-Feature Film Direction | Kaya Poochhe Maya Se | Hindi | Arvind Sinha | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For the teeming surge of humanity in Howrah station with compassion and warmth. ||||

#### 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 | An Encounter with a Life Living | Hindi and English | Producer: Vinu Abraham Director: Suja | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For depicting the plight of a physically incapacitated Sarasu and her cheerful will to live. The director achieves this bringing out the totality, spiritual richness of a "life lived only in the mind" – through an innovative narrative idiom. ||||
| Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film | Aur Ghumantu Thhahar Gaye | Hindi | Producer: Leo Arts Communication Director: Meenakshi Vinay Rai | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For records the life of the nomadic tribe Ghumantu and their peculiar plight of being labelled "habitual offenders". It also records the efforts made at rehabilitating them. ||||
| Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film | Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varrier | English | Producer: Kerala State Film Development Corporation Director: T. Krishnan Unni | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For records the life of a pioneer in Ayurvedic medicine Dr. P.S. Varrier. The film also brings out his many faceted personality along with his contribution to performing arts and literature. ||||
| Best Arts / Cultural Film | Picasso Metamorphoses | English | Producer: Y. N. Engineer for Films Division Director: Nandkumar Sadamate | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its rare attempt at interpreting the works of the legendary painter making him accessible even to those uninitiated to his art. The film examines the troubled times that Picasso lived in, his ideals, his relationships and the inevitable symbiosis of his life and work. ||||
| Best Scientific Film / Best Environment / Conservation / Preservation Film (Jointly given) | The 18 Elephant – Three Monologues | Malayalam | Producer: Savithri Divakaran Director: P. Balan | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For using the novel method of elephants narrating their own story (in human voice) to raise a cry against "man centric" concept of development. The film also succeeds in raising bigger issues of ecological balance, and cruelty to animals. ||||
| Best Promotional Film | Ladakh – The Land Of Mystery | English | Producer: Biyot Projna Tripathy Director: Biyot Projna Tripathy | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For capturing the shining landscape, the people, their culture, beliefs and way of life in pleasing visuals. ||||
| Best Agricultural Film | Seeds Of Life | English | Producer: Rajiv Mehrotra Director: Usha Albuquerque | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its focus on "Navadanya" the movement launched to retrieve the traditional wisdom in alternative farming methods. The film's importance emerges in the face of the current globalisation-led agrarian uncertainties. ||||
| Best Film on Social Issues | Way Back Home | Bengali | Producer:Rajasri Mukhopadhyay Director: Supriyo Sen | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its recounting of a remarkable journey to a homeland lost for ever, as a result of partition. A family driven out of East Pakistan during partition, undertakes a journey back after fifty years to their "homeland". The journey eventually turns into a story of painful memories, lost relationships and the madness of partition- all achieved through a touching personal narrative. ||||
| Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film | Fiddlers on the Thatch | English | Producer: Rajiv Mehrotra Director: Trisha Das | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: This film is the story of "The Gandhian Ashram School" in Kalimpong but it is also a story of the deprived kids gaining their dignity and hope of a teacher who fed their bodies and spirit – all bound by the common thread of music. The director achieves a poignant blend of visual narrative and music to create a heartwarming tale of "sharing and caring" in this film. ||||
| Best Exploration / Adventure Film | Madness in the Desert | English | Producer: Aamir Khan Director: Satyajit Bhatkal | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For explores the spirit, the effort and the mammoth ambition behind the making of "Lagaan". The director has rendered this into a gripping and slick tale. ||||
| Best Investigative Film | A Silent Killer | English | Producer: Dhananjoy Mondal Director: Dhananjoy Mondal | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: The film is a forceful statement on the disastrous consequences of millions of people drinking water contaminated with "arsenic". In a simple but effective manner, the filmmaker explores and then brings out the enormity of the problem. ||||
| Best Animation Film | Jeo Aur Jeene Do | Hindi | Producer: Children's Film Society Director: B. R. Sarnaik Animator: Harshad Sayeed Noori | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: In a humorous, colourful but effective way, the film conveys the message of wild life protection. The imaginative use of animation techniques enhances the appeal of the film, especially to children. ||||
| Best Short Fiction Film | Sati Radhika | Assamese | Producer: Anjali Das Director: Anjali Das | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a popular tale relating to the great 14th century reformer Shankara Deva who stood against caste inequality. The tale narrates an allegory wherein Sati Radhika a fisherwoman perform a miraculous feat, which others could not, thus bringing out the noble concept of social equality. ||||
| Best Cinematography | Kaya Poochhe Maya Se | Hindi | Cameraman: Ranjan Palit Laboratory Processing: Prasad Film Laboratory | ₹ 5,000/- Each |
| ₹ 5,000/- Each |||
| Best Cinematography | The 18 Elephants – 3 Monologues | Malayalam | Cameraman: K. G. Jayan Laboratory Processing: Prasad Film Laboratory | ₹ 5,000/- Each |
| ₹ 5,000/- Each |||
| Best Audiography | Bhaba Paagla | Bengali | Ramesh Birajdar | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For sound design which evokes a vision of a world far, far away from the madding crowd, which oscillates between the silences and nature's pristine sounds. ||||
| Best Editing | Unni | Malayalam | Beena Paul | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the way she supports the eerie pace of a story that swings from here to beyond. ||||
| Best Music Direction | Fiddlers on the Thatch | English | Julius Packiam | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For creating an ambience of music that effectively works also as part of the main narrative. ||||
| Best Narration / Voice Over | The 18 Elephants – 3 Monologues | Malayalam | Balachandran Chullikkadu | ₹ 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For lending feel and depth to the agonies of elephants through his voice. ||||
| Special Jury Award | The Lijjat Sisterhood | English | Kadhambari Chintamani (Director) Ajit Oommen (director) | ₹ 2,500/- Each |
| Citation: For documenting the inspiring story of hundreds of women workers in the Lijjat papad making, selling and exporting. Through the first person interviews ranging from the oldest to the youngest, it is a vibrant narration of a unique experiment turned famously successful. ||||
| Special Jury Award | Ek Aakash | Silent | Sudhakar Reddy (Director) | ₹ 10,000/- |
| Citation: For starting off as a simple rivalry of two kids from different backgrounds – in kite flying, becomes a battle of one-upmanship. Both are led by their ego and aggressive instincts, but eventually reach a point when they need others help. ||||
| Special Mention | Mangali – An Exorcision | | Shilpi Dasgupta (Director) | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||
| Special Mention | Water | English | Aseem Bose (Cameraman) | 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 K. N. T. Sastry was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. Following were the jury members:
* Jury Members
** K. N. T. Sastry (Chairperson) • Kodalli Shivaram • Aruna Anant Damle

#### 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 | Filmi Jagat Mein Ardhashakti Ka Romanch | Hindi | Author: Bharatiya Jnanpith Publisher: Ramakrishna | ₹ 15,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a unique style of chronicling the flip side of film personality through his own biography. It gives an insight into the history of cinema and film journalism in a refreshingly different style ||||
| Best Film Critic | | | Saibal Chatterjee | ₹ 15,000/- |
| Citation: For incisive, bold and realistic criticism of the film industry couched in a refreshing style of writing. ||||

#### 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) | Kathapurush | Bengali | Author: Deepankar Mukhopadhyay | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||
| Special Mention (Book on Cinema) | Chalanchitra Nirdeshaka | Kannada | Author: P. N. Srinivas | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||
| Special Mention (Film Critic) | | Telugu | Vasiraju Prakashan | Certificate Only |
| Certificate Only |||

### 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 Punjabi
* Best Biographical Film
* Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare