Dadasaheb Phalke Award Recipients
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest cinematic honour, instituted in 1969 by the Government of India to commemorate the centenary of Dadasaheb Phalke, who directed India's first silent feature film. Conferred annually at the National Film Awards by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a cash prize of 10 lakh rupees, and a shawl. Devika Rani, often called the 'First Lady of Indian Cinema', was the inaugural recipient in 1969. Over five decades, the honour has celebrated towering directors, actors, music directors, and producers including Prithviraj Kapoor (first posthumous award in 1971), Raj Kapoor (1987), Lata Mangeshkar (1989), Satyajit Ray (1984), K. Balachander (2010), Amitabh Bachchan (2018), and Waheeda Rehman (2021).
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to honor lifetime contributions to Indian cinema.
- Devika Rani Chaudhuri was the inaugural recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 17th National Film Awards in 1969.
- Prithviraj Kapoor was the first person to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award posthumously in 1971.
- The award includes a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus), a cash prize of 10 lakh rupees, a certificate, and a silk scroll.
- Satyajit Ray (1984), Raj Kapoor (1987), Lata Mangeshkar (1989), and Amitabh Bachchan (2018) are prominent recipients.