National Film Award for Best Kannada Feature Film

National Film Award for Best Kannada Feature Film
National award for contributions to Indian Cinema
Awarded for	Best Kannada feature film of the year
Sponsored by	National Film Development Corporation of India
Formerly called	President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Kannada (1954–1968) National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada (1969–2021)
Reward(s)	Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) ₹2,00,000
First awarded	1954
Last awarded	2022
Most recent winner	KGF: Chapter 2
Highlights
Total awarded	72
First winner	Bedara Kannappa

The National Film Award for Best Kannada Feature Film is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus). Since the 70th National Film Awards, the name was changed to "Best Kannada Feature Film".[1]

The National Film Awards, established in 1954, are the most prominent film awards in India that merit the best of the Indian cinema. The ceremony also presents awards for films in various regional languages.

Awards for films in seven regional language (Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu) started from 2nd National Film Awards which were presented on 21 December 1955.[2] Three awards of "President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film", "Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film" and "Certificate of Merit for the Third Best Feature Film" were instituted. The latter two certificate awards were discontinued from 15th National Film Awards (1967).

Directed by H. L. N. Simha, the 1954 film Bedara Kannappa, received the first Certificate of Merit. The film was based on the folktale of the hunter Kannappa who proves his extreme devotion to Lord Shiva by plucking out both of his eyes. However, the first "President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Kannada" was only awarded at the 5th National Film Awards ceremony held on 16 April 1958 to the 1957 film Premada Puthri.[3] The film was directed by R. Nagendra Rao and produced under his banner R. N. R. Pictures. Following is the list of Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal) recipient films produced in Kannada language.

Winners

Award includes 'Rajat Kamal' (Silver Lotus Award) and cash prize. Following are the award winners over the years:

Awards legends
*	President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film
*	Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film
*	Certificate of Merit for the Third Best Feature Film
*	Certificate of Merit for the Best Feature Film
*	Indicates a joint award for that year

List of award films, showing the year (award ceremony), producer(s), director(s) and citation
Year	Film(s)	Producer(s)	Director(s)	Citation	Refs.
1954 (2nd)	Bedara Kannappa	Gubbi Karnataka Productions	H. L. N. Simha	–	[2]
1955 (3rd)	Mahakavi Kalidasa	Lalitakala Film Private Ltd.	K. R. Seetharama Sastry	–	[4]
1956 (4th)	Bhakta Vijaya	Jagannath Productions	A. K. Pattabhi	–	[5]
1957 (5th)	Premada Puthri	R. N. R. Pictures	R. Nagendra Rao	–	[3]
1958 (6th)	School Master	B. R. Panthulu	B. R. Panthulu	–	[6]
1959 (7th)	Jagajyothi Basveshwara	G. S. S. Murthy	T. V. Singh Thakur	–	[7]
1960 (8th)	Bhakta Kanakadasa	D. R. Naidu	Y. R. Swamy	–	[8]
1961 (9th)	Kittur Chennamma	Padmini Pictures	B. R. Panthulu	–	[9]
1962 (10th)	Nanda Deepa	• U. S. Vadhiraj  • U. Jawahar	M. R. Vittal	–	[10]
1963 (11th)	Santha Thukaram	B. Radhakrishna	Sundar Rao Nadkarni	–	[11]
	Mangala Muhurta	U. Subba Rao	M. R. Vittal	–
1964 (12th)	Chandavalliya Thota	Pals & Co.	T. V. Singh Thakur	–	[12]
	Nava Jeevana	• U. S. Vadhiraj  • U. Jawahar  • Bharathi Chitra	P. S. Moorthy	–
	Mane Aliya	A. Subba Rao	S. K. A. Chari	–
1965 (13th)	Sathya Harishchandra	K. V. Reddy	Hunsur Krishnamurthy	–	[13]
	Miss Leelavathi	K. S. Jagan Nath	M. R. Vittal	–
	Maduve Madi Nodu	• B. Nagi Reddy  • Aluri Chakrapani	Hunsur Krishnamurthy	–
1966 (14th)	Sandhya Raga	A. C. Narasimha Murthy	• A. C. Narasimha Murthy  • S. K. Bhagavan	–
1967 (15th)	Bangarada Hoovu	B. A. Arasu Kumar	B. A. Arasu Kumar	–	[14]
1968 (16th)	Mannina Maga	• M. V. Vemkatachallam  • P. Alexander	Geethapriya	–	[15]
1969 (17th)	Gejje Pooje	Chithra Jyothi	Puttanna Kanagal	–	[16]
1970 (18th)	Naguva Hoovu	R. N. Sudarshan	R. N. K. Prasad	–	[17]
1971 (19th)	Vamsha Vriksha	G. V. Iyer	• B. V. Karanth  • Girish Karnad	–
1972 (20th)	Sharapanjara	C. S. Rajah	Puttanna Kanagal	–	[18]
1973 (21st)	Abachurina Post Office	Patre C. Vinayak	N. Lakshminarayan	–	[19]
1974 (22nd)	Kankana	Hamzu Jagalur Imam for Mayura Films Pvt. Ltd	M. B. S. Prasad	–	[20]
1975 (23rd)	Hamsageethe	M/s. Anantha Lakshmi Films	G. V. Iyer	–	[21]
1976 (24th)	Pallavi	K. S. Indira Lankesh	P. Lankesh	–
1977 (25th)	Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane	• B. M. Venkatesh  • Chandulal Jain	• Girish Karnad  • B. V. Karanth	For exploring the conflict between tradition and change in an Indian and Western cultures, for employing the symbol of the sacred cow as a bridge between two civilisations, for the bucolic charm projected through the film's austere setting and particularly through the behaviour of its elderly characters.	[22]
1978 (26th)	Ondanondu Kaladalli	L. N. Combines	Girish Karnad	For delineating the code of warrior's ethics in a medieval setting with a modern vision. The film has excellent outdoor photography, high standard of acting and an eye-catching decor.	[23]
1979 (27th)	Arivu	K. R. Suresh	Katte Ramachandra	–
1980 (28th)	No Award				[24]
1981 (29th)	Bara	M. S. Sathyu	M. S. Sathyu	For an incisive analysis of the socio-political situation in a drought affected district.	[25]
1982 (30th)	Phaniyamma	Prema Karanth	Prema Karanth	For its poignant portrayal of a real life character, who stood up single handed against cruel social customs.	[26]
1983 (31st)	Banker Margayya	• T. S. Narasimhan  • B. S. Somasundar	T. S. Nagabharana	For a faithful and effective rendering of a classic Indian novel into the medium of cinema.	[27]
1984 (32nd)	Bandhana	Rohini Pictures	Rajendra Singh Babu	–	[28]
1985 (33rd)	Bettada Hoovu	Parvathamma Rajkumar	N. Lakshminarayan	For a well-made film with a sensitive story of socio-economic deprivation told against a lyrical backdrop.	[29]
1986 (34th)	Shankha Nada	Umesh Kulkarni	Umesh Kulkarni	For its satirical presentation of the facts of the panchayat system in a faction-ridden village.	[30]
1987 (35th)	Kadina Benki	M/s Manasa Arts	Suresh Heblikar	For its sincerity in its attempt to delve into the problem of marital discords due to psychological imbalance in an artistic manner.	[31]
1988 (36th)	Bannada Vesha	Doordarshan	Girish Kasaravalli	For superb blend of different departments of film-making to bring out lyrically the predicament of performing artiste and his quest for identity.	[32]
1989 (37th)	Mane	• Apoorva Chitra  • NFDC	Girish Kasaravalli	For setting out the contradictions in the urban middle class search, both for moral legitimacy and security, in a corrupt social structure.	[33]
1990 (38th)	Muthina Haara	Rajendra Singh Babu	Rajendra Singh Babu	For effectively portraying patriotism.	[34]
1991 (39th)	Mysore Mallige	Srihari L. Khodey	T. S. Nagabharana	For the bold attempt in conceiving and structuring a film stringing together poems written by the renowned Kannada poet K. S. Narasimhaswamy.	[35]
1992 (40th)	Harakeya Kuri	B. V. Radha	Lalitha Ravee	For its political satire depicting the present-day social situation wherein the innocent citizens are made pawns in the hands of politicians with vested interests.	[36]
1993 (41st)	Chinnari Mutha	• Nagini Nagabharana  • Saroja  • Nandakumar	T. S. Nagabharana	For an imaginative rendering of a child's growing-up process, in terms of the widening ambiance of human life.	[37]
1994 (42nd)	Kotreshi Kanasu	G. Nandakumar	Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar	For a simple but effective tale of a young harijan boy fighting cast justice in rural Karnataka.	[38]
1995 (43rd)	Kraurya	Nirmala Chitgopi	Girish Kasaravalli	For its poignant travail of and old woman'a agony in a middle class family and her complex relationship with the individuals of three generation.	[39]
1996 (44th)	America America	G. Nandakumar	Nagathihalli Chandrashekar	For mature handling of a deftly written script set in USA and India holding up love for one's own country and cultural values.	[40]
1997 (45th)	Mungarina Minchu	• Jai Jagadish  • R. Dushyanth Singh	Rajendra Singh Babu	For its interesting and amusing portrayal of the unexpected series of events that change the life of all the character in this family.	[41]
1998 (46th)	Hoomale	K. S. Usha Rao	Nagathihalli Chandrashekar	For its strong statement about a widow surmounting severe trials in an unfamiliar land and circumstances and finding love against a background of terrorism.	[42]
1999 (47th)	Kanooru Heggadithi	• H. G. Narayana  • C. M. Narayana  • I. P. Mallegowda	Girish Karnad	For depicting increasing gaps between generation and genders very sensitively portrayed through the three main female characters.	[43]
2000 (48th)	Mathadana	• H. G. Narayana  • I. P. Mallegowda	T. N. Seetharam	For delineating the way in which the larger political system influences and manipulates the lives of ordinary people at various levels, a commendable critique of the corroding corruption and power managing forces.	[44]
2001 (49th)	Atithi	Mitrachitra	P. Sheshadri	For addressing the universal affliction of terrorism. It portrays the impact of this scourge on innocent lives, human relations and behavioural patterns. It examines the issue at a human level with which viewers can empathise.	[45]
2002 (50th)	Singaaravva	Sandesh Nagaraj	T. S. Nagabharana	For its stylised treatment of a folk tale.	[46]
2003 (51st)	Preethi Prema Pranaya	Kavitha Lankesh	Kavitha Lankesh	For depicting the contrasting values of three generations in a light hearted manner.	[47]
2004 (52nd)	Beru	Mitrachitra	P. Sheshadri	For critical analysis of bureaucratic corruption through the eyes of a folk dancer and its ironic overtone.	[48]
2005 (53rd)	Thaayi	Prameela Joshai	Baraguru Ramachandrappa	For its contemporary interpretation of Maxim Gorky's classic novel against injustice and oppression.	[49]
2006 (54th)	Kaada Beladingalu	• K. M. Veeresh  • K. N. Siddalingaiah  • B. S. Lingadevaru	B. S. Lingadevaru	For highlighting the impact of youth migration and media opportunism on the older generation.	[50]
2007 (55th)	Gulabi Talkies	Basant Kumar Patil	Girish Kasaravalli	Gulabi Talkies traces the impact of new media on a fishing community of coastal Karnataka, against the backdrop of globalised business practices and growing communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims at the turn of the century.	[51]
2008 (56th)	Vimukthi	Navyachitra Creations	P. Sheshadri	For exploring different dimension of family ties.	[52]
2009 (57th)	Kanasemba Kudureyaneri	Basant Kumar Patil	Girish Kasaravalli	For the departure from linear narrative to unfold the interlinked events in a village and its superstitions.	[53]
2010 (58th)	Puttakkana Highway	• Shylaja Nag  • Prakash Raj	B. Suresha	For a persuasive articulation of a topical social issue where in the name of development, land is appropriated and people are displaced as a consequence.	[54]
2011 (59th)	Koormavatara	Basant Kumar Patil	Girish Kasaravalli	For the subtle interplay between two paths along which director's protagonist moves: the path of his ordinary life and the path thrown open to him by a role in a TV serial, and the consequences that follow.	[55]
2012 (60th)	Bharath Stores	Basant Productions	P. Sheshadri	The highly emotive issue of FDI in retail gets its cinematic expression in this simple yet powerful movie.	[56]
2013 (61st)	December-1	Basant Productions	P. Sheshadri	A hard-hitting tale of a poor family in a village that gets enmeshed with the crooked ways of politicians.	[57]
2014 (62nd)	Harivu	Om Studio	Manjunath S. (Mansore)	For the lingering pathos of a father’s struggle to provide medical treatment to his only child and his long trek back home with his son’s corpse.	[58]
2015 (63rd)	Thithi	Prospect Productions	Raam Reddy	A striking and realistically charming portrayal of life in a village, told in the idiom of comedy and surrealism.	[59]
2016 (64th)	Reservation	Thotadamane	Nikhil Manjoo	A brave attempt to showcase the harsh reality prevalent in our society.	[60]
2017 (65th)	Hebbet Ramakka	Puttaraju S. A.	N. R. Nanjunde Gowda	–	[61]
2018 (66th)	Nathicharami	Tejaswini Enterprises	Manjunath S. (Mansore)	Poignantly and sensitively capturing a modern day women’s conflict with set norms, mores and values.
2019 (67th)	Akshi	Kaladegula Studio	Manoj Kumar	A heart wrenching presentation of the struggle of a rural boy to promote eye donation.	[62]
2020 (68th)	Dollu	Wadeeyar Movies	Sagar Puranik	This film captures the fight of folk artists against urbanisation. Set in a fictional village believed to be the birthplace of the art form Dollu Kunitha, Dollu is the story of Bhadra, a Dollu drummer.	[63]

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External links

• Official Page for Directorate of Film Festivals, India
• National Film Awards Archives