51^st  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.)

THE EIGHTEENTH ELEPHANT – THREE MONOLOGUES (MALAYALAM)

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.)

SEEDS OF LIFE (ENGLISH)

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

FIDDLERS ON THE THATCH (ENGLISH)

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)

MADNESS IN THE DESERT (ENGLISH)

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

The award for the best exploration/ adventure film for the year 2003 is given to MADNESS IN THE DESERT that explores the spirit, the effort and the mammoth ambition behind the making of `LAGAAN’. The director has rendered this into a gripping and slick tale.

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

JEO AUR JEENE DO (HINDI)

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 14^th 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.       SHILPA DASGUPTA

2.       ASHIM BOSE

The Special Mention for 2003 is made for innovative direction of Shilpa Dasgupta for her film Mangali- An Exorcision 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.