Dada Saheb Phalke Award: Celebrating Excellence

Discover the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award, honoring excellence in Indian cinema. Explore its history, winners, and impact on the film industry.

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Digital Desk Team, Kolkata

Edited by Saibal Bose

The Dada Saheb Phalke Award is India’s most prestigious honor in the film industry. It’s a lifetime achievement award. The Government of India presents it annually. It recognizes “outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.”

Dada Saheb Phalke Award: The Pinnacle of Cinematic Achievement 🏆

The Dada Saheb Phalke Award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke. He is revered as the “Father of Indian Cinema.” This award stands as the ultimate recognition for an artist’s contribution to the Indian film world. Phalke directed India’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1913, laying the very foundation of the industry. To honor his monumental legacy, the Government of India instituted this award in 1969, the centenary year of his birth.

The award is presented by the President of India during the National Film Awards ceremony. The recipient is chosen by a committee consisting of eminent personalities from the Indian film industry. It isn’t just for actors or directors. It is for anyone who has made an indelible impact on Indian cinema. This includes producers, screenwriters, and cinematographers.

The honor comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize, which is now ₹1,000,000. It celebrates a career that has entertained the nation. This career has also shaped the cultural and artistic landscape through film.

Notable Honorees

The inaugural award was presented to actress Devika Rani in 1969. Since then, the list of recipients reads like a who’s who of Indian cinema legends. It includes luminaries like Prithviraj Kapoor, Satyajit Ray, Lata Mangeshkar, Dilip Kumar, Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, and Asha Parekh. The most recent recipient is veteran actress Waheeda Rehman. She was conferred the award for the year 2021, which was presented in 2023.

Receiving this award is considered the crowning achievement of a career in Indian cinema. It is a testament to decades of dedication, innovation, and excellence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who was Dadasaheb Phalke?
Dhundiraj Govind “Dadasaheb” Phalke (1870–1944) was an Indian film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is known as the “Father of Indian Cinema” for directing India’s first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913).

What does the award include?
The award includes a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion. It also includes a shawl and a cash prize of ₹1,000,000 (ten lakh rupees).

Who was the first person to get this award?
The first recipient was actress Devika Rani, who was honored at the 17th National Film Awards in 1969.

Is this the same as the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards?
No, they are different. This is a very important distinction.

• The Dada Saheb Phalke Award is a prestigious lifetime achievement award given by the Government of India. There is only one recipient per year.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) Awards are given out by a private organization. They honor various categories like Best Film and Best Actor, etc., annually. While named in honor of Dadasaheb Phalke, they are not the official, government-recognized lifetime achievement award.

Tags: Dada Saheb Phalke Award, Indian Cinema, National Film Awards, Lifetime Achievement, Bollywood, Father of Indian Cinema, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, Indian Film Industry, Cinema of India