51st NATIONAL FILM AWARDS
1.
AWARD FOR THE BEST NON-FEATURE FILM
WAR AND PEACE (ENGLISH) AND KAYA POOCHHE MAYA SE (HINDI)
Swarna Kamal and a Cash Prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Producer :
ANAND PATWARDHAN
Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director :
ANAND PATWARDHAN
AND
Swarna Kamal and a Cash Prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Producer :
ARVIND SINHA
Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director :
ARVIND SINHA
Citations
The Award for the Best Non-feature Film of the year 2003 is given jointly to War
and Peace and
‘Kaya
Poochhe Maya Se’.
War
and Peace
sets out to search for the roots of violence
manifest in many forms in the current times- from communal forces to nuclear
race, Shot in India, Pakistan, Japan & USA, the film achieves a
multi-layered understanding of
these deep rooted tensions- at the same time recording the aspirations for
peace, harmony and secularism, in the backdrop of Gandhian thought.
‘Kaya Poochhe Maya Se’
is a probing, thoughtful, intense, yet a non-judgmental record of the myriad
faces of humanity floating around the Howrah Station that lies by the side of
the river Ganga. The director with just his keen eye and an unpredictable
symmetry of images, gains an inner eye into the mystery called people. It is as
though an entire civilization is reconstructed
through images of floating faces, people and sounds.
2. AWARD FOR THE BEST FIRST
NON-FEATURE FILM OF A DIRECTOR
AN ENCOUNTER WITH A LIFE LIVING (MALAYALAM/ENGLISH)
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs.10,000/- to each
Producer : VINU ABRAHAM
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to each
Director : SUJA
Citation
The
award for the Best First Non-feature Film of a Director for the year 2003 is
given to
AN ENCOUNTER WITH A LIFE
LIVING which depicts 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
3. AWARD FOR THE BEST
ANTHROPOLOGICAL/ ETHNOGRAPHIC FILM
AUR
GHUMANTU THHAHAR GAYE (HINDI)
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs 10,000/- to the
Producer : LEO ARTS COMMUNICATION
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director :
MEENAKSHI VINAY RAI
Citation
The
award for the Best Anthropological/Ethnographic film of the year 2003 is given
to AUR GHUMANTU THHAHAR GAYE.
The
film records the life of the nomadic tribe Ghumantu and their peculiar plight of
being labeled ‘habitual offenders’. It also records the efforts made at
rehabilitating them.
4. AWARD FOR THE BEST
BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION/ COMPILATION FILM
VAIDYARATNAM P S VARRIER
(English)
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Producer :
KERALA STATE FILM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Rajat
Kamal and a Cash Prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director :
T KRISHNAN UNNI
Citation
The
award for the Best Biographical Film of the year 2003 is given to VAIDYARATNAM P S VARRIER that 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.
5. AWARD FOR THE BEST
ARTS/CULTURAL FILM
PICASSO
METAMORPHOSES ( English )
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to each
Producers :
Y.N.ENGINEER, FILMS DIVISION
Rajat
Kamal and a Cash Prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director :
NANDKUMAR SADAMATE
Citation
The
Award for the Best Arts/Cultural Film of 2003 is given to PICASSO METAMORPHOSES 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.
6. AWARD FOR THE BEST
SCIENTIFIC FILM /ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION/PRESERVATION FILM (Including method
and process of science, contribution of Scientists, awareness etc.)
Rajat
Kamal and a Cash Prize of Rs.10,000/-
Producer:
SAVITHRI DIVAKARAN
Rajat
Kamal and a Cash Prize of Rs.10,000/-
Director: P BALAN
Citation
The
award for the Best Scientific Film/ Environment Conservation / Preservation film
of 2003 is given to THE
EIGHTEENTH ELEPHANT – THREE MONOLOGUES 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.
7.
AWARD FOR THE BEST PROMOTIONAL FILM
(To
cover tourism exports, crafts, industry etc.)
LADAKH
THE LAND OF MYSTERY (English)
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to each
Producer : BIYOT PROJNA TRIPATHY
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director :
BIYOT PROJNA TRIPATHY
Citation
The
award for the Best Promotional Film of the year 2003 is given to LADAKH
THE LAND OF MYSTERY for capturing the shinning landscape, the people, their
culture, beliefs and way of life in pleasing visuals.
8. AWARD FOR THE BEST
AGRICULTURE FILM
(To
include subjects related to and allied to agriculture like animal husbandry,
dairying etc.)
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to each
Producers :
RAJIV MEHROTRA, PUBLIC SERVICE
BROADCASTING TRUST
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director :
USHA ALBUQUERQUE
Citation
The
Award for the Best Agriculture Film of 2003 is given to
SEEDS OF LIFE 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 globalization-led agrarian uncertainties.
9 AWARD FOR THE BEST FILM ON
SOCIAL ISSUES
(Such
as prohibition, women and child welfare, and dowry, drug abuse, Welfare of the
handicapped etc.)
WAY
BACK HOME (BENGALI)
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Producer :
RAJASRI MUKHOPADHYAY
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director : SUPRIYO SEN
Citation
The
award for the Best Film on Social Issues for the year 2003 is given to WAY
BACK HOME 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.
10. AWARD FOR THE BEST
EDUCATIONAL/MOTIVATIONAL/
INSTRUCTIONAL FILM
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Producer:
RAJIV MEHROTRA, PUBLIC SERVICE
BROADCASTING TRUST
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director:
TRISHA DAS
Citation
The
award for the best educational/motivational/instructional film is given to FIDDLERS
ON THE THATCH. 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.
11. AWARD FOR THE BEST
EXPLORATION/ADVENTURE FILM
(To
include sports)
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Producer:
AMIR KHAN
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director:
SATYAJIT BHATKAL
Citation
12. AWARD FOR THE BEST INVESTIGAVE FILM
A
SILENT KILLER (ENGLISH)
Rajat Kamal and a cash prize
of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Producer
: DHANANJOY MONDAL
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director DHANANJOY
MONDAL
The
award for the Best Investigative film for 2003 is given to Dhananjoy Mandal for the English film A SILENT KILLER. 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.
13. AWARD FOR THE BEST
ANIMATION FILM
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Producer
: CHILDREN’S FILM SOCIETY OF INDIA
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director:
B R SARNAIK
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Animator: HARSHAD SAYEED NOORI
Citation
The award for the Best
Animation film for 2003 is given to B. R.
Sarnaik for the Hindi film JEEO AUR
JEENE DO. 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.
14. SPECIAL JURY AWARD
THE
LIJJAT SISTERHOOD (ENGLISH) AND EK AAKASH (SILENT)
Rajat
Kamal and a Cash Prize of Rs. 2,500 each to
the
Directors: KADAMBARI
CHINTAMANI AND AJIT OOMMEN for The Lijjat Sisterhood
and
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 5,000/- to the
Director:
SUDHAKAR REDDY for Ek Aakash
Citation
Special
Jury Award for the year 2003 is given to the Directors Kadambari Chintamani and Ajit
Oommen for their film The Lijjat
Sisterhood and Sudhakar Reddy for
his silent film Ek Akaash
The Lijjat Sisterhood documents 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.
Ek Akash that
starts 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.
15. AWARD FOR THE BEST SHORT
FICTION FILM
SATI
RADHIKA (ASSAMESE)
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Producer :
ANJALI DAS
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Director :
ANJALI DAS
Citation
The
award for the Best Short Fiction Film of the Year 2003 is given to Anjali
Das for the Assamese film Sati
Radhika is a popular tale relating to the great 14th century
reformer Shankara Deva who stood against caste in equality.
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.
16.
AWARD FOR THE BEST FILM ON FAMILY WELFARE
NO AWARD RECOMMENDED
17. AWARD FOR THE BEST
DIRECTION
Swarna
Kamal and a Cash Prize of Rs. 20,000/- to the
Director
:
ARVIND SINHA
Citation
The
award for the Best Direction for the Year 2003 is given to Arvind
Sinha for capturing the teeming surge of humanity in Howrah station with
compassion and warmth in his film KAYA POOCHHE MAYA SE.
18. AWARD FOR THE BEST
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 5,000/- each to the
Cameramen: RANJAN PALIT for the film KAYA POOCHHE MAYA SE and
K G JAYAN for the film
THE EIGHTEENTH ELEPHANT : THREE MONOLOGUES
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Laboratory
processing the film
Laboratory :
PRASAD FILM LABORATORY for the film
Kaya Poochhe Maya Se
Citation
The
Best cinematography award of 2003 is given to Ranjan
Palit for the Hindi film Kaya Poochhe
Maya Se and K.G.Jayan
for the Malayalam film The 18 Elephants
– 3 Monologues.
Kaya Poochhe Maya Se is a
cinematic observation of myriad shades of humanity and
breathtaking
chiaroscuro of light and shade.
K.G.Jayan’s
camera vision is a manifesto of exploring the reality, and transporting it to
the
surreal
, to beyond the manifest.
19. AWARD FOR THE BEST
AUDIOGRAPHY
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Audiographer:
RAMESH BIRAJDAR for the film BHABA
PAAGLA
Citation
The
Best Audiography award of 2003 is given to Ramesh
Birajdar for the Bengali film Bhabaa
Pagla for the 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.
20.
AWARD FOR THE BEST EDITING
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Editor: BINA
PAUL for the film UNNI
(Malayalam)
Citation
The
award for the Best Editing for the Year 2003 is given to Bina Paul for the Malayalam film Unni for the way she supports the eerie pace of a story that
swings from here to beyond.
21. AWARD FOR THE BEST MUSIC
DIRECTION
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Music Director:
JULIUS PACKIAM
Citation
The
award for the Best Music Direction for the year 2003 is given Julius
Packiam for the English film Fiddlers
on the Thatch for creating an ambience of music that effectively works also
as part of the main narrative.
22.
BEST NARRATION /VOICE OVER
Rajat
Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- to the
Narrator:
BALACHANDRAN CHULLIKAD
Citation
The
best Narration/Voice Over award for 2003 is given to Balachandran Chullikad for the Malayalam film The Eighteenth Elephant — Three Monologues for lending feel and
depth to the agonies of elephants through his voice.
SPECIAL MENTION
1.
SHILPI
DASGUPTA
2.
ASHIM BOSE
The
Special Mention for 2003 is made for innovative direction of
Shilpi Dasgupta for her maiden
film Mangali- An Exorcision for the
thoughtful and laudable craft that shaped the film and Ashim
Bose, Cameraman for the English film Water
for enhancing the impact of the film with his eloquent lens, that captures
the sprit of the subject of the film.
(ANWAR
JAMAL) (HAIMANTI
BANNERJEE) (RAJEEV
KHANDAGALE)
MEMBER
MEMBER
MEMBER
(SATYABRAT
KALITA) (JOSE
SEBASTIAN)
(N.S.SHANKAR)
MEMBER
MEMBER
MEMBER
(BHIM
SAIN)
CHAIRMAN OF THE JURY FOR NON
FEATURES
DATED 26TH AUGUST 2004