The 35th 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 1987.[1] Ceremony took place in April 1988 and awards were given by then President of India, R. Venkataraman.
Starting with 35th National Film Awards, National Film Award for Best Direction for Feature films section is awarded with Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus). For Non-feature films section, two new awards were instituted and awarded with Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) namely, Best Educational / Motivational Film and Best Short Fiction Film.
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 | 
|
Raj Kapoor | Actor, Film director and Film producer | Swarna Kamal, Template:INR 1,00,000 and a Shawl |
Feature Films
Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 35th National Film Awards, an Assamese film, Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and a Malayalam film, Anantaram along with a Tamil film, Nayakan and a Hindi film, Tamas won the maximum number of awards (3). Following were the awards given in each category:[1]
Juries
A committee headed by Shyam Benegal was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:[1]
- Jury Members
All India Award
Following were the awards given:[1]
Golden Lotus Award
Official Name: Swarna Kamal[1]
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 | Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai | Assamese | Producer: Sailadhar Baruah and Jahnu Barua | Template:INR 50,000/- |
| Director: Jahnu Barua | Template:INR 25,000/- | |||
| Citation: For its mastery of cinematic form and the totality of its film craft and for its authentic depiction of the Indian rural problem and for the life affirmating human dignity it portrays in the face of the most trying social circumstances. | ||||
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Ekti Jiban | Bengali | Producer: Chalchitra Director: Raja Mitra |
Template:INR 25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For a very courageous first attempt of a director in tackling the subject of an individual unwavering in his conviction in the cultural value of his language and single handly making available its enriching value to the generation of his people who will come after him. | ||||
| Best Feature Film Providing Popular and Wholesome Entertainment | Pushpaka Vimana | Kannada | Producer:Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and Shringar Nagaraj | Template:INR 50,000/- |
| Director: Singeetam Srinivasa Rao | Template:INR 25,000/- | |||
| Citation: For its innovative approach to entertainment. | ||||
| Best Children's Film | Swamy | Hindi | Producer: T. S. Narasimhan | Template:INR 30,000/- |
| Director: Shankar Nag | Template:INR 15,000/- | |||
| Citation: For the delightful recreation of childhood and growing up in an Indian village during the freedom movement. | ||||
| Best Direction | Anantaram | Malayalam | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Template:INR 25,000/- |
| Citation: For the exceptional mastery of the craft in dealing with a very complex and unusual subject for the cinema. | ||||
Silver Lotus Award
Official Name: Rajat Kamal[1]
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 | Tamas | Hindi | Producer: M/s Blaze Entertainment | Template:INR 30,000/- |
| Director: Govind Nihalani | Template:INR 15,000/- | |||
| Citation: For recreating without compromise the tragic events leading to the communal holocaust at the eve of partition in a Punjab village. | ||||
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Ore Oru Gramathiley | Tamil | Producer: M/s Janani Arts Creations | Template:INR 30,000/- |
| Director: Jyothipandian | Template:INR 15,000/- | |||
| Vedham Pudhithu | Producer: S. Rangarajan | Template:INR 30,000/- | ||
| Director: Bharathiraja | Template:INR 15,000/- | |||
| Citation: For tackling the problem of caste differences and discrimination from the opposite ends of the hierarchy in their own way in a convincing manner and for the rigorous statement they make and the solutions they offer. | ||||
| Best Actor | Nayakan | Tamil | Kamal Haasan | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his outstanding and moving portrayal of a multi-faceted character with subtle moral nuances played with total control and extraordinary histrionic skill. | ||||
| Best Actress | Veedu | Tamil | Archana | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the totally naturalistic portrayal of a middle class working woman faced with everyday tensions of living and her attempts to overcome the ever-increasing problems of urban life. | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor | Rithubhedam | Malayalam | Thilakan | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his sharp and incisive delineation of the immorality of a human being who is weak and mean. | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Tamas | Hindi | Surekha Sikri | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For her compelling performance as a woman who has not lost her innate human goodness even under the most adverse and stressful conditions of the holocaust. | ||||
| Best Child Artist | Swamy | Hindi | Master Manjunath | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For his utterly charming and delightful portrayal of a young school going village boy who is combination of innocence and mischief, pointing to the inherent natural wisdom of the young. | ||||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam Template:Small |
Malayalam | K. J. Yesudas | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the vivacity and mellifluous rendering of the theme song, giving full and meaningful expression to the lyric. | ||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Ijaazat Template:Small |
Hindi | Asha Bhosle | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For her rendition with high professional skill and expression, of the many nuances of emotion and meaning of the highly poetic lyrics. | ||||
| Best Cinematography | Nayakan | Tamil | P. C. Sreeram | Template:INR 15,000/- |
| Citation: For the precise interpretation in lighting and camera operation adding a very vital dimension to the narrative. | ||||
| Best Screenplay | Anantaram | Malayalam | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For the precision in structuring a very complex narrative content requiring both exceptional dramatic and literary skills. | ||||
| Best Audiography | Anantaram | Malayalam | Template:*P. Devadas Template:*T. Krishnanunni Template:*N. Harikumar |
Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For harnessing all the elements of sounds, music and silence to create a perfect complement to the visual design of the film. | ||||
| Best Editing | Vedham Pudhithu | Tamil | P. Mohanraj | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For being able to find an original editing vocabulary appropriate to the story in order to create a perfect blend of narrational and motivating elements. | ||||
| Best Art Direction | Nayakan | Tamil | Thotta Tharani | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For interpreting the visual content of the film as authentically as possible, both in the design and construction of the sets and the colour schemes, to create the appropriate atmosphere and character of the film. | ||||
| Best Costume Design | Pestonjee | Hindi | Template:*Ramilla Patel Template:*Mani Rabadi |
Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For recreating the costumes of the period and the Parsi community with meticulous attention to detail, enhancing the quality of the film. | ||||
| Best Music Direction | Tamas | Hindi | Vanraj Bhatia | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For creating a thematic score on a heroic scale through melody and complex harmonic arrangements of a symphonic character to stress the human anguish during the holocaust that followed partition, helping greatly in defining the tragic dimensions of the events. | ||||
| Best Lyrics | Ijaazat Template:Small |
Hindi | Gulzar | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For an extremely elegant lyric using subtle similies and metaphors to express attachment, desire and parting and finally to serve as a definition to love within the context of the film. | ||||
| Special Jury Award | M. B. Sreenivasan (Posthumously) | Template:INR 10,000/- | ||
| Citation: For his contribution to a whole genre of film music, for promoting the welfare of technicians of all disciplines in the film industry and for pioneering choral music of a very high order and community singing on a national scale. | ||||
Regional Awards
The award is given to best film in the regional languages in India.[1]
| Name of Award | Name of Film | Awardee(s) | Cash Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film in Assamese | Pratham Ragini | Producer: S. N. Bora | Template:INR 20,000/- |
| Director: Dhiru Bhuyan | Template:INR 10,000/- | ||
| Citation: For significant achievement as a first film in a region still young in cinema and for the portrayal of a young girl's courage and optimism in the face of great adversity and personal tragedy. | |||
| Best Feature Film in Bengali | Antarjali Jatra | Producer: NFDC | Template:INR 20,000/- |
| Director: Gautam Ghose | Template:INR 10,000/- | ||
| Citation: For creating through an event of the early 19th century a universal parable of exploitation, life and death with an underlying faith in the inevitability of change. | |||
| Best Feature Film in Hindi | Pestonjee | Producer: NFDC | Template:INR 20,000/- |
| Director: Vijaya Mehta | Template:INR 10,000/- | ||
| Citation: For creating an exquisite and gentle tale full of irony, stressing the universal need for human companionship, loyalty and acceptance of life. | |||
| Best Feature Film in Kannada | Kadina Benki | Producer: M/s Manasa Arts | Template:INR 20,000/- |
| Director: Suresh Heblikar | Template:INR 10,000/- | ||
| Citation: For its sincerity in its attempt to delve into the problem of marital discords due to psychological imbalance in an artistic manner. | |||
| Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Purushartham | Producer: P. T. K. Mohammad | Template:INR 20,000/- |
| Director: K. R. Mohanan | Template:INR 10,000/- | ||
| Citation: For creating highly disciplined work of great formal quality of a little boy's discovery of his dead father's environment and his eventual alienation from his mother. | |||
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Sarja | Producer: Seema Deo | Template:INR 20,000/- |
| Director: Rajdutt | Template:INR 10,000/- | ||
| Citation: For its patriotic vigour in the retelling of a story set during the turbulent times of Shivaji. | |||
| Best Feature Film in Oriya | Nishidhdha Swapna | Producer: Manmohan Mahapatra | Template:INR 20,000/- |
| Director: Manmohan Mahapatra | Template:INR 10,000/- | ||
| Citation: For its uncompromising technique in objectively observing in life of a family in an Oriya village defining the attitudes, motivations, hopes and disillusionment of each one in the context of social change of which they are all a part. | |||
| Best Feature Film in Tamil | Veedu | Producer: Kaladas | Template:INR 20,000/- |
| Director: Balu Mahendra | Template:INR 10,000/- | ||
| Citation: For a deeply compassionate portrayal of a middle class working woman with an old grandfather and sister as her dependents, attempting to retain the integrity of her family in the present day urban milieu. | |||
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 Buddhadeb Dasgupta was appointed to evaluate the non-feature films awards. Following were the jury members:[1]
- Jury Members
- Buddhadeb Dasgupta (Chairperson)Template:•K. K. KapilTemplate:•N. LakshminarayanTemplate:•K. ViswanathTemplate:•Ram Mohan
Golden Lotus Award
Official Name: Swarna Kamal[1]
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 | Bhopal: Beyond Genocide | English | Producer: Cinemart Foundation Director: Tapan K. Bose, Suhasini Mulay and Salim Shaikh |
Template:INR 25,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its sincere, conscientious study of a very important socio-technological issue of recent times, which explores its subject with a multi-faceted and humanistic approach. | ||||
Silver Lotus Award
Official Name: Rajat Kamal[1]
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 Anthropological / Ethnographic Film | Raaste Band Hain Sab | Hindi | Producer: Manjiri Dingwaney, Rural Labour Cell Director: Manjiri Dutta |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For dealing with an old issue such as caste-ism in a profound cinematic style, wherein the leitm of it of the exploitation of man by man and its consequences for the present are never lost track of. | ||||
| Best Biographical Film | Basheer - The Man | English | Producer: Kannakulam Abdulla Director: M. R. Rahman |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its presentation of a relatively unknown literary personality through a fresh, spontaneous, uninhibited portrayal that brings out the complexity of an unconventional individual, rich in wit and worldly wisdom . | ||||
| Best Arts / Cultural Film | The Kingdom of God | English | Producer: Shilpabharati Publicity Director: Ranabir Ray |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For treating its subject with careful cinematic detail and with a deep sincerity towards the very rich folk painting scene in rural India. | ||||
| Best Scientific Film (including Environment and Ecology) | A Cooperative for Snake Catchers | English | Producer: Eco Media Pvt Ltd Director: Romulus Whitaker and Shekar Dattatri |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For informative portrayal of concepts such as the use of traditional skills and knowledge existing in a tribal society for the common good, indirectly spreading a scientific temper all around. | ||||
| Best Industrial Film | Golden Muga Silk - The Cultural Heritage of Assam | English | Producer: Director (NE), Central Silk Board, Assam Director: Siba Prasad Thakur |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its exhaustive and well researched analysis of Assam's traditional sericulture industry and factors that have contributed to its survival and growth. | ||||
| Looking Back | English | Producer: Drishtikon Productions Template:Small Films Division Director: Prakash Jha |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each | |
| Citation: For depicting the highly technical area of the contemporary industrial scene with sophistication and style. | ||||
| Best Agricultural Film | Angora For Wool | English | Producer: D. Gautaman Template:Small Films Division Director: K. Jagjivan Ram |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its simplicity and straightforwardness in advising the people of hilly region to adopt the comparatively new and remunerative occupation of rearing angora rabbits for their wool. | ||||
| Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film | The Story of Delhi | English | Producer: Serbjeet International Template:Small Films Division Director: Serbjeet Singh |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its aesthetic and innovative presentation of architectural history of a great capital city, giving the viewer the sense of being a participant observer in its evolution and thus a sense of pride in belonging to such a city. | ||||
| Best Film on Social Issues | Sankalp | Hindi | Producer: Madhya Pradesh Film Development Corporation Ltd. Director: Rajendra Janglay |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For rendering in a poetic, at the same time, sociological manner, the ordinary theme of the construction of a dam, its allied good and its consequences that would be the harbinger of progress. | ||||
| Best Educational / Motivational Film | Paani | Marathi | Producer and Director: Sumitra Bhave | Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For expounding that self help is the best help and that solutions to individual problems of those of a society can be initiated and completed successfully, even within the development process. | ||||
| Best Exploration / Adventure Film | Antarctica - A Continuing Mystery (News Magaize No: 101) |
English | Producer: Vijay B. Chandra Template:Small Films Division Cameraman: Mahesh Kamble |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its daring and poetic coverage of scientific experiments carried out in Antarctica. | ||||
| Best News Review | Colours of Life (News Magaize No: 100) |
English | Producer: Pritam S. Arshi Template:Small Films Division Cameraman: Mahesh P. Sinha and Sant Lal Prasad |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For bringing out the message that the disabled can also live and work like others through narration of the successful human story of a handicapped artist Jayantilal Shihora, who paints holding brush in his mouth. | ||||
| Best Animation Film | End Game | English | Producer: B. R. Shendge Template:Small Films Division Director and Animator: Arun Gongade |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For effectively using the medium of animation to make a visual metaphor come live, the shadow of nuclear annihilation looms over the world as superpowers play a deadly game which has no winners. | ||||
| Best Short Fiction Film | The Eight Column Affair | English | Producer: Film and Television Institute of India Director: Sriram Raghavan |
Template:INR 10,000/- Each |
| Citation: For its innovative use of cinematic techniques to put together a surrealistic collage of visual that add up to a delightfully brisk narrative, full of whimsical humour. | ||||
| Special Jury Award | Barren Harvest | English | Rajiv Mehrotra | Template:INR 8,000/- |
| Citation: For his creative and sensitive handling of the serious iodine deficiency in flood prone areas of Eastern UP. | ||||
| Special Mention | The Kingdom of God | English | Ashok Gunjal (Cameraman) | Certificate only |
| Citation: For his aesthetically pleasing and technically proficient camerawork. | ||||
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 Sunil Ganguly was appointed to evaluate the writing on Indian cinema. Following were the jury members:[1]
- Jury Members
- Sunil Ganguly (Chairperson)Template:•Manarcad MathewTemplate:•K. L. Nandan
Silver Lotus Award
Official Name: Rajat Kamal[1]
All the awardees are awarded with 'Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal)' and cash prize.
| Name of Award | Name of Book | Language | Awardee(s) | Cash Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Book on Cinema | Kazhchayude Asanthi (Torments of Seeing) |
Malayalam | Author: V. Rajakrishnan | Template:INR 10,000/- |
| Citation: For focussing of major trends and impulses in National and International cinemam, for promoting the appreciation of cinema as a serious art form, for underlining the relevance of cinema in the depiction of the basic concerns of present day society. | ||||
| Best Film Critic | Hindi | Brajeshwar Madan | Template:INR 5,000/- | |
| Citation: For his indepth approach to film appreciation, not limited solely to film reviewing, but extending to the wider aspects of film making and analysing the theme and treatment of the films for their social relevance. | ||||
Awards not given
Following were the awards not given as no film was found to be suitable for the award:[1]
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