Overhaul of National Film Awards categories: 'Indira' and 'Nargis' names axed

New Delhi: In a significant revamp of the National Film Awards, the Committee for Rationalisation of Film Awards has recommended changes to certain prestigious categories. The alterations encompass renaming and restructuring the awards' framework.

One of the notable modifications includes renaming the 'Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director' to 'Best Debut Film of a Director.'

This change is accompanied by an increase in the award amount, now set at Rs 3 lakh.

Similarly, the 'Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration' underwent a transformation and is now dubbed the 'Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.'

Furthermore, this award merges with 'Best Film on Social Issues and Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation.' The associated award has also witnessed a hike to Rs 2 lakh each for both the director and producer.

The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award has not been immune to these alterations. The monetary value of this esteemed award has been elevated from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh, signifying a recognition of outstanding contributions to Indian cinema.

In addition to these changes, a new category named 'Best AVGC Film' has been introduced, amalgamating the Best Animation Film and Best Special Effects categories. This strategic move aims to align with contemporary trends and advancements in the film industry.

The revamp extends to several other categories, fostering a comprehensive enhancement of the awards.

Renaming and increasing the prize money for categories like Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress are among the pivotal changes. These awards will now be known as 'Best Actor in a Leading Role,' 'Best Actress in a Leading Role,' 'Best Actor in Supporting Role,' and 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role,' respectively.

The award amounts for these categories have also been substantially raised to Rs 2 lakh each.

Further transformations extend to categories such as Best Audiography and Best Music Director. In the Best Audiography category, three sub-categories, namely Location Sync Sound Recordist, Sound Designer, and Recordist of the Final Mixed Track, have been consolidated into 'Best Sound Design.' The award for this category is Rs 2 lakh for the sound designer.

The Best Music Director category has been streamlined, merging 'Best Music Director (Background Music)' and 'Best Music Director (Background Score)' into 'Music Director (Background Music).'

The award for this category is also set at Rs 2 lakh.

Moreover, the awards for 'Best Feature Film in each of the languages specified in Schedule VIII of the Constitution' and 'Feature Film in each of the languages other than those specified in Schedule VIII of the Constitution' have been renamed. They will now be known as 'Best (name of the language) Feature Film,' with the award money doubled to Rs 2 lakh each.

The committee, led by Neerja Sekhar, additional secretary in the Information and Broadcasting ministry, included eminent personalities such as filmmakers Priyadarshan, Vipul Shah, Haobam Paban Kumar, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Prasoon Joshi, cinematographer S Nallamuthu, as well as I&B joint secretary Prithul Kumar and the ministry’s director (finance) Kamlesh Kumar Sinha.

It's noteworthy that the committee unanimously agreed on these modifications, underscoring the collective commitment to enhancing the prestige and relevance of the National Film Awards. These changes are expected to breathe new life into the awards, aligning them with contemporary cinematic trends and celebrating excellence across diverse categories.

As the film industry evolves, these changes not only reflect a forward-looking approach but also demonstrate a commitment to acknowledging and rewarding cinematic brilliance across varied genres and dimensions.

The 70th edition of the National Film Awards will witness the implementation of these recommendations. Entries for this edition were sought based on the committee's comprehensive and thoughtful suggestions, marking a new chapter in the illustrious history of Indian cinema accolades.