The National Film Award for Best Feature Film is one of the categories in the National Film Awards presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with the Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal). The award is announced for films produced in a year across the country, in all Indian languages. As of 2024[update], the award comprises a Swarna Kamal, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹3,00,000 and is presented to the producer and the director of the film.
The National Film Awards were established in 1954 to "encourage production of the films of a high aesthetic and technical standard and educational and culture value" and also planned to include awards for regional films.[1] The awards were instituted as "State Awards for Films" but were renamed to "National Film Awards" at the 15th National Film Awards in 1967.[2]As of 2024[update], the award is one of six Swarna Kamal awards presented for the feature films. The award-winning film is included at the annual International Film Festival of India. Only the films made in any Indian language and silent films which are either shot on 35mm, in a wider gauge, or digital format but released on a film or Video/Digital format and certified by the Central Board of Film Certification as a feature film or featurette are made eligible for the award.[3]
From 1953 till 1956,[1][8] the director of the film was awarded with the Gold medal which was later changed in 1957 to a cash prize of ₹ 5,000.[6] From 1967 till 1973,[2][9] a plaque was also awarded to the director and cash prize was revised to ₹ 10,000 in 1970.[4] At the 22nd National Film Awards (1974),[10] the award for the director was changed to Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) and a cash prize of ₹ 15,000 which was later revised to ₹ 20,000 at the 25th National Film Awards (1977).[11] Since 28th National Film Awards (1980),[5] the director is awarded with the Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of ₹ 25,000 which was later revised to ₹50,000 at the 28th National Film Awards (1980),[5]₹2,50,000 at the 54th National Film Awards (2006),[7] and ₹3,00,000 at the 70th National Film Awards (2022).[12]
↑ "13th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. p.1,6. Archived(PDF) from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
↑ "16th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. p.2. Archived(PDF) from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
↑ "17th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. p.2,6. Archived(PDF) from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
↑ "31st National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. p.6. Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
↑ "32nd National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. p.7. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
↑ "33rd National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.8–9. Archived(PDF) from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
↑ "34th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.10–11. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
↑ "35th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.12–13. Archived(PDF) from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
↑ "36th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.12–13. Archived(PDF) from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
↑ "37th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.12–13. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
↑ "38th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.14–15. Archived(PDF) from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
↑ "39th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.14–15. Archived(PDF) from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
↑ "40th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.14–15. Archived(PDF) from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
↑ "41st National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.12–13. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
↑ "42nd National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.6–7. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
↑ "43rd National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.6–7. Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
↑ "44th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.6–7. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
↑ "45th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.6–7. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
↑ "46th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.6–7. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
↑ "48th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.22–23. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
↑ "49th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.18–19. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
↑ "50th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.18–19. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
↑ "51st National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.10–11. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
↑ "52nd National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.10–11. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
↑ "53rd National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.10–11. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
↑ "55th National Film Awards"(PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp.14–15. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
↑ "62nd National Film Awards"(PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. 24 March 2015. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
↑ "63rd National Film Awards"(PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. 28 March 2016. Archived(PDF) from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
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