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Last edited September 21, 2021


Template:Infobox film awards

The 63rd National Film Awards was an award ceremony during which the Directorate of Film Festivals of India presented its annual National Film Awards to honour the best films of 2015 in Indian cinema. The awards were announced on 28 March 2016 and the ceremony was held on 3 May 2016.[1]

Selection process

The Directorate of Film Festivals invited nominations for the awards in January 2016. The acceptable last date for entries was until 13 January 2016. Feature and Non-Feature Films certified by Central Board of Film Certification between 1 January 2015, and 31 December 2015, were eligible for the film award categories. Books, critical studies, reviews or articles on cinema published in Indian newspapers, magazines, and journals between 1 January 2015, and 31 December 2015, were eligible for the best writing on cinema section. Entries of dubbed, revised or copied versions of a film or translation, abridgements, edited or annotated works and reprints were ineligible for the awards.[1]

For the Feature and Non-Feature Films sections, films in any Indian language, shot on 16 mm, 35 mm, a wider film gauge or a digital format, and released in cinemas, on video or digital formats for home viewing were eligible. Films were required to be certified as a feature film, a featurette or a Documentary/Newsreel/Non-Fiction by the Central Board of Film Certification.[1]

Best Film Friendly State

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 a State Government Policy.

Award Name of State Citation
Best Film Friendly State State of Gujarat Film Policy for Promotion of Gujarati Cinema.

Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Introduced in 1969, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest award given to recognise the contributions of film personalities towards the development of Indian cinema and for distinguished contributions to the medium, its growth and promotion.[2]

A committee consisting five eminent personalities from Indian film industry was appointed to evaluate the lifetime achievement award, Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Following were the jury members.[3]

  • Jury Members
Template:• Lata Mangeshkar
Template:• Asha Bhosle
Template:• Nitin Mukesh
Template:• Salim Khan
Template:• Anup Jalota
Name of Award Image Awardee(s) Awarded As Awards
Dadasaheb Phalke Award File:Manoj Kumar at Esha Deol's wedding at ISCKON temple 10.jpg Manoj Kumar Actor, Filmmaker Swarna Kamal, Template:INRConvert and a Shawl

Feature Films

Feature films will be awarded at All India as well as regional level. Following will be the awards given in each category:

Juries

A committee headed by Ramesh Sippy was appointed to evaluate the feature films awards. Following were the jury members:[4]

All India Award

Following will be 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 Award Name of Film Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Feature Film Baahubali: The Beginning Telugu Producer: Shobu Yarlagadda & Arka Media Works (P) LTD.
Director: S. S. Rajamouli
Template:INR 250,000/- Each
Best Debut Film of a Director Masaan Hindi Producer: Phantom Films
Director: Neeraj Ghaywan
Template:INR 1,25,000/- Each
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Bajrangi Bhaijaan Hindi Producer: Salman Khan & Rockline Venkatesh
Director: Kabir Khan
Template:INR 200,000/- Each
Best Children's Film Duronto Hindi Producer: Code Red Films
Director: Soumnedra Padhi
Template:INR 150,000/- Each
Best Direction Bajirao Mastani Hindi Sanjay Leela Bhansali Template:INR 250,000/-

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 Award Name of Film Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Feature Film on National Integration Nanak Shah Fakir Punjabi Producer: Gurbani Media
Director: Template:Dash
Template:INR 150,000/- Each for
Best Film on Other Social Issues Nirnayakam Malayalam Producer: Jayraj Films
Director: V. K. Prakash
Template:INR 150,000/- Each
Best Film on Environment/Conservation/Preservation Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal Malayalam Producer: Dr. A. K. Pillai
Director: Dr. Biju
Template:INR 150,000/- Each
Best Actor Piku Hindi Amitabh Bachchan Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Actress Tanu Weds Manu Returns Hindi Kangana Ranaut Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Supporting Actor Visaranai Tamil Samuthirakani Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Supporting Actress Bajirao Mastani Hindi Tanvi Azmi Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Child Artist Ben Malayalam Gaurav Menon Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Male Playback Singer Katyar Kaljat Ghusali
Template:Small
Marathi Mahesh Kale Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Female Playback Singer Dum Laga Ke Haisha
Template:Small
Hindi Monali Thakur Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Cinematography Bajirao Mastani Hindi Sudeep Chatterjee Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Screenplay
Template:*Template:Small
Piku Hindi Juhi Chaturvedi Template:INR 50,000/-
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Hindi Himanshu Sharma
Best Screenplay
Template:•Template:Small
Talvar Hindi Vishal Bhardwaj Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Screenplay
Template:*Template:Small
Piku Hindi Juhi Chaturvedi Template:INR 50,000/-
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Hindi Himanshu Sharma
Best Audiography
Template:•Template:Small
Talvar Hindi Sanjay Kurian Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Audiography
Template:•Template:Small
Bajirao Mastani Hindi Biswadeep Chatterjee Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Audiography
Template:•Template:Small
Bajirao Mastani Hindi Justin Jose Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Editing Visaranai Tamil Kishore Te Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Art Direction Bajirao Mastani Hindi Template:•Shriram Iyengar
Template:•Saloni Dhatrak
Template:•Sujeet Sawant
Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Costume Design Nanak Shah Fakir Punjabi Payal Saluja Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Make-up Artist Nanak Shah Fakir Punjabi Template:•Preetisheel Singh
Template:•Clover Wootton
Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Music Direction
Template:•Template:Small
Ennu Ninte Moideen
(Template:Small)
Malayalam M. Jayachandran Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Music Direction
Template:•Template:Small
Tharai Thappattai Tamil Ilaiyaraaja Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Lyrics Dum Laga Ke Haisha
Template:Small
Hindi Varun Grover Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Special Effects Baahubali : The Beginning Telugu V. Srinivas Mohan Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Choreography Bajirao Mastani
Template:Small
Hindi Remo D'Souza Template:INR 50,000/-
Special Jury Award Margarita with a Straw Hindi Kalki Koechlin (Actress) Template:INR 200,000/-
Special Mention Sairat Marathi Rinku Rajguru (Actress) Certificate only
Template:•Su Su Sudhi Vathmeekam
Template:•Lukka Chuppi
Malayalam Jayasurya (Actor)
Irudhi Suttru Tamil Ritika Singh (Actress)

Regional Awards

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

Name of Award Name of Film Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Producer(s) Director
Best Feature Film in Assamese Kothanodi Anurupa Hazarika Bhaskar Hazarika Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Bengali Shankhachil Nideas Creations & Productions Pvt Ltd Goutam Ghose Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Bodo Dau Huduni Methai Shankarlal Goenka Manju Borah Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Hindi Dum Laga Ke Haisha Template:•Maneesh Sharma
Template:•Yash Raj Films
Sharat Katariya Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Kannada Thithi Prspctvs Productions Pvt Ltd. Raam Reddy Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Konkani Enemy A. Durga Prasad Dinesh P. Bhonsle Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Maithili Mithila Makhaan Template:•Neetu Chandra
Template:•Samir Kumar
Nitin Chandra Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Malayalam Pathemari Allens Media Salim Ahamed Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Manipuri Eibusu Yaohanbiyu Yunman Hitalar (Neta) Singh Maipaksana Haorongbam Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Marathi Ringan My Role Motion Pictures Makarand Mane Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Oriya Pahada ra luha Mohapatra Movie Magic Pvt. Ltd. Sabyasachi Mohapatra Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Punjabi Chauthi Koot Template:•NFDC
Template:•Kartikeya Singh
Gurvinder Singh Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Sanskrit Priyamanasam Baby Mathew Somatheeram Vinod Mankara Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Tamil Visaranai Wunderbar Films Vetri Maaran Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Telugu Kanche Y. Rajeev Reddy Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi (Krish) Template:INR 100,000/- Each

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


Name of Award Name of Film Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Producer(s) Director
Best Feature Film in Haryanvi Satrangi Punam Deswal Sharma Sundeep Sharma Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Khasi Onaatah Template:•Pomu Das
Template:•Marjina Kurbah
Pradip Kurbah Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Mizo Kima’s Lode Beyond the Class Children's Film Society Zualaa Chhangte Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Feature Film in Wancho The Head Hunter Splash Films Private Limited Nilanjan Datta Template:INR 100,000/- Each

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.

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 Award Name of Film Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Non-Feature Film Amdavad Ma Famous Gujrati Producer: Akanksha Tewari & Arya A. Menon
Director: Hardik Mehta
Template:INR 100,000/- Each
Best Non-Feature Film Direction Kamuki Malayalam Producer: Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute
Director: Christo Tomy
Template:INR 50,000/- Each

Silver Lotus Award

Official Name: Rajat Kamal

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 First Non-Feature Film Daaravtha Marathi Producer: Nishantroy Bombarde
Director: Nishantroy Bombarde
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film Aoleang English Producer: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Stuidies
Director: Ranajit Ray

Assistant Director – Goutam Sharma

Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Biographical Film / Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film Life in Metaphors: A Portrait of Girish Kasaravalli English And Kannada Producer: Reelism Film
Director: O.P. Shrivastava
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Arts / Cultural Film Template:• A Far Afternoon – A Painted Saga

Template:•Yazhpanam Thedchanamoorthy – Music Beyond Boundaries
Hindi, English

Tamil
Producer: Piramal Art Foundation
Director: Sruti Harihara Subramanian

Producer: Siddhartha Productions
Director: Amshan Kumar
Template:INR 50,000/- Each (Cash Component to be shared)
Best Environment Film including Best Agricultural Film Template:•The Man who Dwarfed the Mountains

Template:• God On The Edge
Hindi,English

English, Bengali
Producer:Rajiv Mehrotra, PSBT
Director: Ruchi Shrivastava & Sumit Sunderlal Khanna

Producer:Elements Picture Studio
Director:Ashok Patel
Template:INR 50,000/- Each (Cash Component to be shared)
Best Promotional Film Weaves of Maheshwar Hindi, English Producer: Storyloom Films
Director:Keya Vaswani & Nidhi Kamath
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Film on Social Issues Auto Driver Manipuri Producer: Oinam Doren, Longjam Meena Devi
Director: Longjam Meena Devi
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film Paywat Marathi Producer: Mithunchandra Chaudhari
Director: Nayana Dolas & Mithunchandra Chaudhari
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Exploration / Adventure Film Dribbling with their Future English, Tamil & Kannada Producer: N. Dinesh Raj Kumar & Mathew Varghese
Director: Jacob Varghese
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Investigative Film Tezpur 1962 English Producer: Films Division of India
Director: Samujjal Kashyap
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Animation Film Fisherwoman and TukTuk No Dialogues Producer: Nilima Eriyat
Director: Suresh Eriyat
Animator: Studio Eeksaurus Productions Private Limited
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Short Fiction Film Aushadh Marathi Producer: Amol Deshmukh
Director: Amol Deshmukh
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Film on Family Welfare Best Friends Forever English Producer: Syed Sultan Ahmed (Edumedia India Pvt. Ltd.)
Director: Sandeep Modi
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Cinematography Benaras- The Unexplored Attachments Bengali Cameraman: Amartya Bhattacharyya
Laboratory Processing:
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Best Audiography Edpa Kana Kudukh Moumita Roy Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Editing Breaking Free English Parvin Angre and Sridhar Rangayan Template:INR 50,000/-
Best Music Direction A Far Afternoon- A Painted Saga Hindi, English Aravind – Shankar Template:INR 50,000/-
Special Jury Award In Search Of Fading Canvas Hindi Producer: Films Division
Director: Manohar Singh Bisht
Template:INR 50,000/- Each
Special Mention The Chameleone English Arun Shankar Certificate only
Amma Malayalam Neelan
Syaahi Marathi Varun Tandon

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.

Golden Lotus Award

Official Name: Swarna Kamal

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

Name of Award Name of Book Language Awardee(s) Cash Prize
Best Book on Cinema Dr. Rajkumar Samagra Charithre Kannada Author: Doddahulluru Rukkoji Publisher: Preeti Pustaka Prakashana Template:INR 75,000/- Each
Best Film Critic Manipuri Meghachandra Kongbam Template:INR 75,000/-
Special Mention Forgotten Masters of Hindi Cinema Author: Satish Chopra Certificate Only

References

Template:National Film Awards