The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest honour in Indian cinema. It is given by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian films. Here is a look at its history and how it works.
Who was Dadasaheb Phalke
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, known as Dadasaheb Phalke, is called the father of Indian cinema. He made Raja Harishchandra, released in 1913, which is regarded as India’s first full length feature film. He went on to make dozens of films.
History of the award
The award was instituted in 1969, on the centenary year of Phalke’s birth. The first recipient was actor Devika Rani, often called the first lady of Indian cinema. Since then, the honour has gone to actors, directors, singers, producers and other film personalities.
How the winner is chosen
The award is presented as part of the National Film Awards, which are run by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. A committee of eminent film personalities recommends the name, and the government announces the winner. The award is usually presented by the President of India at the National Film Awards ceremony.
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What the award includes
The winner receives a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl and a cash prize. When the ministry revised the National Film Awards in 2023, the cash prize for the Phalke Award was raised to Rs 15 lakh.
Notable winners
- Prithviraj Kapoor, honoured after his death in 1971.
- Satyajit Ray, 1984.
- Raj Kapoor, 1987.
- Lata Mangeshkar, 1989.
- Dilip Kumar, 1994.
- Amitabh Bachchan, 2018.
- Rajinikanth, 2019.
- Asha Parekh, 2020.
- Waheeda Rehman, 2021.
- Mithun Chakraborty, 2022.
In September 2025, the government announced that Malayalam actor Mohanlal would receive the award for 2023.
Why it matters
Unlike other awards that honour one film or one year, the Phalke Award recognises a lifetime of work. It is seen as the final seal of respect from the industry and the nation.
Other honours named after Phalke
Several private awards also use Phalke’s name. These are separate from the official Dadasaheb Phalke Award given by the Government of India.
Bottom line
Named after the man who started Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award honours those who shaped its journey. Its list of winners reads like a history of Indian film.
Source / स्रोत: Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Press Information Bureau, National Film Awards
