Did u know that the National Film Awards are considered as one of the oldest award ceremonies in India? The award was first introduced in the year 1954 and is currently administrated by the Indian government’s Directorate of Film Festivals. The awards were introduced to encourage and honor films that are directed across India promoting integration and unity of the nation. Neither the government nor the Directorate of Film Festivals influences the winners list.
The government appoints a national panel to select the winning entry. The panel follows rigid criteria to qualify a film in the winners list. Every year the award ceremony is held in the capital city of the country, where the President of India hands out the awards to the winners for the year. The event is followed by the induction of the National Film Festival and all the films (award-winning) are screened for the public. Each year more than 100 films are directed across the country and are qualified for the award winning list.