Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
arts

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

40th National Film Awards

National Film Awards (India)


National Film Awards (India)

FieldValue
number40
awardNational Film Awards
caption40th National Film Awards
awarded_forBest of Indian cinema in 1992
award_orgDirectorate of Film Festivals
presenting_orgShankar Dayal Sharma
(President of India)
announced_date
presented_date
websitedff.nic.in
lifetime_achievementBhupen Hazarika
best_featureBhagavad Gita
best_non_featureIn Search of Indian Theatre
best_bookAwara
best_criticSudhir Bose
most_winsThevar Magan (5)
last39th
next41st

(President of India)

The 40th 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 1992. Ceremony took place in 1993.

Awards

Awards were divided into feature films, non-feature films and books written on Indian cinema.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Name of AwardImageAwardee(s)Awarded AsAwards
Dadasaheb Phalke Award[[File:Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Assam, India.jpg75px]]Bhupen HazarikaMusic directorSwarna Kamal, and a Shawl

Feature films

Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 40th National Film Awards, a Sanskrit film, Bhagavad Gita won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and a Tamil film, Thevar Magan won the maximum number of awards (5). Following were the awards given in each category:

Juries

A committee headed by Balu Mahendra was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:

  • Jury Members
    • Balu Mahendra (Chairperson)Sai ParanjpyeSwapan Kumar GhoshK. D. ShoreyHema MehtaT. S. MohanaBijaya JenaV. K. PavithranBasu ChatterjeeSurinder SinghAnil SaariSabyasachi MohapatraT. S. NagabharanaSurjya Hazarika

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 AwardName of FilmLanguageAwardee(s)Cash prize
Best Feature FilmBhagavad GitaSanskritProducer: T. Subbarami Reddy50,000/-
director: G. V. Iyer25,000/-
Citation: For successfully translating immortal philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita into a cinematic idiom.
Best DirectionPadma Nadir MajhiBengaliGautam Ghose50,000/-
Citation: For his stunningly convincing realisation of Manik Bandopadhyay's novel into a breathtaking cinematic experience.
Best Debut Film of a DirectorMiss Beatty's ChildrenEnglishProducer: NFDC, Doordarshan and Rooks AV
Director: Pamela Rooks25,000/- Each
Citation: For an elegantly simple and sensitive depiction of a British missionary woman who fights the devdasi system in pre-independent India.
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome EntertainmentSargamMalayalamProducer: Bhavani40,000/-
Director: Hariharan20,000/-
Citation: For its delightful rendering of a family saga into a heartwarming musical film.
Best Children's FilmMujhse Dosti KarogeHindiProducer: National Center of Films for Children and Young People30,000/-
Director: Gopi Desai15,000/-
Citation: For its gentle handling of a child who has exciting adventures in his own social dream world.
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 AwardName of FilmLanguageAwardee(s)Cash prize
Second Best Feature FilmPadma Nadir MajhiBengaliProducer: Government of West Bengal30,000/-
Director: Gautam Ghose15,000/-
Citation: For depicting the plight of boat people of the river Padma in an unforgettable experience.
Best ScreenplaySadayamMalayalamM. T. Vasudevan Nair10,000/-
Citation: For an extremely well structured script.
Best CinematographyMiss Beatty's ChildrenEnglishCameraman: Venu
Laboratory Processing: Prasad Film Laboratories15,000/-
Citation: For his masterly, unobtrusive and technically excellent camera work.
Best AudiographyThevar MaganTamilN. Pandurangan10,000/-
Citation: For his extremely creative recording and mixing of the sound track, giving the film an added dimension.
Best EditingSargamMalayalamM. S. Mani10,000/-
Citation: For imparting a natural rhythm to Sargam completely in time with its musical format.
Best Art DirectionRudaaliHindiSamir Chanda10,000/-
Citation: For its realistic recreation of the desert scape, with its requisite architectural structures, both opulent and humble.
Best Music DirectionRojaTamilA. R. Rahman10,000/-
Citation: For the harmonious blend of western and Karnatak classical music in Roja, the separate music systems complementing each other without losing their own identities.
Best Costume DesignRudaaliHindiMala Dey
Simple Kapadia10,000/-
Citation: For the authentic designs they created to blend with the desert backdrop of Rajasthan.
Best ActorTahader KathaBengaliMithun Chakraborty10,000/-
Citation: For his innovative performance which effectively captures the agony of a freedom fighter immediately after Independence.The award was not given for Mohanlal's role in the Malayalam film Sadayam, saying that it could not be given for two consecutive years for same person.
Best ActressRudaaliHindiDimple Kapadia10,000/-
Citation: For compelling interpretation of the tribulations of a lonely woman ravaged by a cruel society.
Best Supporting ActorDaminiHindiSunny Deol10,000/-
Citation: For his outstanding portrayal of hardened and cynical lawyer who takes on new challenges in his quest for justice.
Best Supporting ActressThevar MaganTamilRevathi10,000/-
Citation: For compelling and convincing performance of an innocent village girl, giving it an effortlessly charming naturalness.
Best Child ArtistMujhse Dosti KarogeHindiAmit Phalke5,000/-
Citation: For the sheer joy and versatility he brings to the portrayal of a lovable lad lost in his own dream world.
Best Male Playback SingerJeevana Chaitra
("Naadamaya Ee Lokavella")KannadaRajkumar10,000/-
Citation: For his extraordinary rendering of a raga celebrating the all pervasive power of music.
Best Female Playback SingerThevar Magan
("Inji Idupazhagi")TamilS. Janaki10,000/-
Citation: For melodious rendering of an innocent love song.
Best LyricsRoja
("Chinna Chinna Aasai")TamilVairamuthu10,000/-
Citation: For his charming, simple poem which has been become a new nursery rhyme on the lips of every child in Tamil Nadu.
Best Special EffectsAngaarHindiShashilal K. Nair10,000/-
Citation: For his absolutely convincing miniature work.
Best ChoreographyEk Hota VidushakMarathiLaxmibai Kolhapurkar10,000/-
Citation: For successfully adapting a popular folk theatre form to the screen.
Best Feature Film on National IntegrationRojaTamilProducer: Kavithalayaa Productions30,000/-
Director: Mani Ratnam15,000/-
Citation: For presenting a thrilling drama of the abduction of an Indian scientist by a self-proclaimed liberation army which later realises the futility of its anti-social activities.
Best Film on Family WelfareShwet Paatharer ThalaBengaliProducer: Shankar Gope30,000/-
Director: Prabhat Roy15,000/-
Citation: For its bold depiction of a widow who defies tradition.
Best Film on Other Social IssuesNeenga Nalla IrukkanumTamilProducer: G. V. Films Pvt. Ltd30,000/-
Director: Visu15,000/-
Citation: For its effective and purposeful plea for prohibition.
Best Film on Environment / Conservation / PreservationCheluviHindiProducer: Sadir Media Pvt. Ltd30,000/-
Director: Girish Karnad15,000/-
Citation: For its direct and effective communication of a threatening problem – deforestation.
Special Jury AwardThevar MaganTamilSivaji Ganeshan (Actor)5,000/- Each
Maya MemsaabHindiKetan Mehta (Director)
Special MentionPasanda PanditBengaliSibaprasad Sen (Director)Certificate Only
Citation: For his refreshing directorial debut.

Regional Awards

The award is given to best film in the regional languages in India.

Name of AwardName of FilmAwardee(s)Cash prize
Best Feature Film in AssameseRailor Alir Dubori BanProducer: Pulak Gogoi20,000/-
Director: Pulak Gogoi10,000/-
Citation: For its innovative style in putting across the tragedy of the exploited poor and portraying their agony and helplessness in a poignant manner.
Best Feature Film in BengaliTahader KathaProducer: NFDC20,000/-
Director: Buddhadeb Dasgupta10,000/-
Citation: For its most unusual and daring treatment of a very real socio-political issue in a metaphoric manner – the alienation of a freedom fighter from his country, now changed beyond recognition.
Best Feature Film in HindiSuraj Ka Satvan GhodaProducer: NFDC20,000/-
Director: Shyam Benegal10,000/-
Citation: For its poetically charming enquiry into the nature and meaning of love.
Best Feature Film in KannadaHarakeya KuriProducer: B. V. Radha20,000/-
Director: Lalitha Ravee (K. S. L. Swame)10,000/-
Citation: For its political satire depicting the present-day social situation wherein the innocent citizens are made pawns in the hands of politicians with vested interests.
Best Feature Film in MalayalamSwaroopamProducer: P. T. K. Mohammed20,000/-
Director: K. R. Mohanan10,000/-
Citation: For its original concept and in-depth exploration of the psyche of a man who escapes into the mystic past to flee from the harsh reality of everyday life.
Best Feature Film in MarathiEk Hota VidushakProducer: NFDC20,000/-
Director: Jabbar Patel10,000/-
Citation: For its humane portrait of simple tamash clown sucked in by the glittering world of show business and exploited by politicians.
Best Feature Film in OriyaVinya SamayaProducer: Shankar Gope20,000/-
Director: Manmohan Mahapatra10,000/-
Citation: For its competent treatment of the corruption of modern youth in search of illusive wealth.
Best Feature Film in TamilThevar MaganProducer: Kamal Haasan20,000/-
Director: Bharathan10,000/-
Citation: For its dynamic depiction of an educated youth who returns to his roots to fight injustice and in the process is forced to unleash the animal within him.
Best Feature Film in TeluguAnkuramProducer: K. V. Suresh Kumar20,000/-
Director: C. Umamaheswara Rao10,000/-
Citation: For the struggle of a simple housewife who fights an oppressive system single-handed and succeeds in making a dent.

Best Feature Film in Each of the Language Other Than Those Specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution

Name of AwardName of FilmAwardee(s)Cash prize
Best Feature Film in EnglishElectric MoonProducer: S. S. Bedi20,000/-
Director: Pradip Krishen10,000/-
Citation: For its tongue-in-cheek parody of royalty gone to seed. A humorous depiction of a decaying way of life, not without its tragic undertones.

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 Ghanashyam Mohapatra was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:

  • Jury Members
    • Ghanashyam Mohapatra (Chairperson)Serbjeet SinghP. B. PendharkarLenin Rajendran

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 AwardName of FilmLanguageAwardee(s)Cash prize
Best Non-Feature FilmIn Search of Indian TheatreEnglishProducer: Arundhati Chatterjee
Director: Abhijit Chattopadhyay15,000/- Each
Citation: For a deep and sensitive insight into contemporary Indian theatre.

Silver Lotus Award

Official Name: Rajat Kamal

All the awardees are awarded with 'Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal)' and cash prize.

Name of AwardName of FilmLanguageAwardee(s)Cash prize
Best First Non-Feature FilmKnock-OutTamilProducer: B. Lenin
Director: B. Lenin10,000/- Each
Citation: The director has given us a powerful insight into the labyrinth of the human mind faced with a disaster situation.
Best Anthropological / Ethnographic FilmWangala – A Garo FestivalEnglishProducer: Bappa Ray
Director: Bappa Ray10,000/- Each
Citation: For competently presenting the life of lifestyle of Garo community of Meghalaya.
Best Biographical FilmPandit Bhimsen JoshiHindiProducer: Gulzar for Films Division
Director: Gulzar10,000/- Each
Citation: For a moving rendering of the life of great master of ragas.
Best Arts / Cultural FilmThe RecluseHindiProducer: Arvind Sinha
Director: Arvind Sinha10,000/- Each
Citation: For a fine and moving tribute to one of the great living master of Dhrupad – Ustad Amiruddin Dagar.
Suchitra MitraBengaliProducer: Sailen Seth
Director: Raja Sen
Citation: For a cinematic tribute to the greatest living exponent of Rabindra Sangeet.
Best Scientific FilmChunautiMarathiProducer: D. G. Information and Public Relations, Government of Maharashtra
Director: Dinkar Chowdhary10,000/- Each
Citation: For its daring presentation in a befitting manner of the most dangerous disease of present times – AIDS.
Best Environment / Conservation / Preservation FilmLadhakh – The Forbidden WildernessEnglishProducer: Bedi Films
Director: Naresh Bedi10,000/- Each
Citation: For an authentic rendition of civilisation and wildlife on the roof of the world.
Best Promotional FilmSound of the Dying ColorsEnglishProducer: Paran Barbarooah, B. B. Productions
Director: Sher Choudhury10,000/- Each
Citation: For the film makes out a good case for preserving the arts of dyeing that have existed in many tribal communities for centuries.
Best Agricultural FilmBerEnglishProducer: Om Prakash Sharma for Films Division
Director: Rajgopal Rao10,000/- Each
Citation: For a skilful rendition of the process in the cultivation of ber in the arid zones of India.
Best Film on Social IssuesChoodiyanHindiProducer: Sai Paranjpye for Films Division
Director: Sai Paranjpye10,000/- Each
Citation: For portraying the courage of women in fighting alcoholism among the menfolk of the community.
Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional FilmKalarippayatEnglishProducer: P. Ashok Kumar
Director: P. Ashok Kumar10,000/- Each
Citation: For a unique picturisation of the martial art of Kerala.
Towards Joy and FreedomEnglishProducer: Haimanti Banerjee
Director: Haimanti Banerjee
Citation: For insight into the system of education being practised at Rabindranath Tagore's Shantiniketan.
Best Exploration / Adventure FilmAntarctica – A Scientists' ParadiseEnglishProducer: R. Krishna Mohan for Films Division
Director: A. Udayashankar10,000/- Each
Citation: For an impressive pictorial record of achievements of our scientists on the frozen continent of Antarctica.
Best Investigative FilmRam ke NaamHindiProducer: Anand Patwardhan
Director: Anand Patwardhan10,000/- Each
Citation: For a skilfully made film on a major problem of the times – the communal divide.
Best Animation FilmGaaye Ki SachaiHindiProducer: Climb Films and N'CYP
Director: Bhimsain
Animator: Bhimsain10,000/- Each
Citation: For an allegorical story skilfully told about moral values.
The ThreadsEnglishProducer: B. R. Shendge for Films Division
Director: Girish Rao
Animator: Girish Rao
Citation: For an innovative film on the theme of unity.
Best Short Fiction FilmAgar Aap ChaheinHindiProducer: Shahnaz Rahim for Films Division
Director: Mazahir Rahim10,000/- Each
Citation: For a moving story of a village community which has been saved from migration to a city by timely help from a bank for agricultural development.
Best Film on Family WelfareSuno Bahu RaniHindiProducer: Om Prakash Sharma for Films Division
Director: K. K. Kapil10,000/- Each
Citation: For a deftly made film with the aid of puppets on the theme of family welfare.
Best CinematographySucitra MitraBengaliCameraman: Soumendu Roy
Laboratory Processing: Adlabs10,000/- Each
Citation: For capturing on celluloid the many moods of the Bengal landscape and picturisation of the famous singer Suchitra Mitra.
Best AudiographyWangala – A Garo FestivalEnglishSanjoy Chatterjee10,000/-
Citation: For a sustained standard of sound recording on difficult locations which enriches the quality of the film.
Best EditingKalarippayatEnglishK. R. Bose10,000/-
Citation: For deft cutting of difficult sequence which makes it possible to maintain the rhythm and tempo of the film.
Special Jury AwardNoottantinte SakshiMalayalamSalam Karassery (Producer)
Sasibhushan (Director)10,000/-
Citation: For a moving narrative about the courageous Maulvi patriot and centenarian Moidu Maulvi of Calicut, Kerala.

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 Mrinal Pande was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. Following were the jury members:

  • Jury Members
    • Mrinal Pande (Chairperson)Gautaman BhaskaranShirshendu Mukhopadhyay

Golden Lotus Award

Official Name: Swarna Kamal

All the awardees are awarded with 'Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal)' and cash prize.

Name of AwardName of BookLanguageAwardee(s)Cash prize
Best Book on CinemaAwaraEnglishAuthor: Gayatri Chatterjee
Publisher: Wiley Eastern Ltd10,000/- Each
Citation: Her work is a novel experiment, which analyses the film in depth both at a personal and at a social level. What emerges is a clear reflection of the socio-economic fabric of a newly independent India. The book can be rightly termed an extension of Raj Kapoor's artistic sensibilities.
Best Film CriticBengaliSudhir Bose10,000/-
Citation: His writings go beyond newspaper or magazine journalism. His courage of conviction helps him to reflect most authentically the regional and ethnic sensitibilies of cinema across globe. Whether it be Indian cinema or Hungarian or even American, Mr. Bose's articles portray a rare kind of perception.

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 Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film

References

References

  1. "40th National Film Awards". Directorate of Film Festivals.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 40th National Film Awards — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report