Who’s got the actual Dadasaheb Phalke Award?
Had he been alive now, the ‘father of Indian cinema’, Dadasaheb Phalke, would be 148 years old and very nonplussed by the way his name is causing confusion in the film industry. Presented annually as part of the National Film Awards, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award recognises outstanding contribution to the growth an development of Indian cinem
However, what’s confusin everyone are other awards with the name ‘Dadasaheb Phalke’. While one is called Dadasaheb Phalke Excellen Awards, another is called Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Awards, these are in no way connected to the one awarded by the Directorate of Film Festivals — an organisation set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the organiser of the National Film Awards. Stars such as Akshay Kumar, Shahid Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, Manisha Koirala, and Aditi Rao Hydari have won these other awards this year.
Commenting on the flood of awards given in the name of Dadasaheb Phalke, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) member Vani Tripathi Tikoo says, “This is a complete disregard of one of the most coveted and acclaimed awards by the Government of India. The film industry is equally appalled. This tamasha happens every year, and shows their lack of respect and intention to even have any regard towards the Bharat Ratna of cinema.”
We got in touch with Ashfaque Khopekar, the chairman of the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Awards. He says, “Our award is supported by Bollywood’s own Federation of Western India Cine Employees. We’re not earning anything from this. But many people now just make small organisations, and do it for money by using Dadasaheb’s name.”
Interestingly, the poster for the Film Foundation’s awards features trade expert Atul Mohan as one of the jury. But when contacted, Mohan said, “I know the committee, but they never contacted me (to come aboard) as a jury member. I don’t even know! They didn’t even invite me to the event!”
Director Shyam Benegal, awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award by the government in 2005, also dislikes the confusion arising from these different awards. He says, “It confuses people. This was the highest award you could get in Indian cinema. Now you have a number of awards; the whole thing is silly. Somebody might put Dadasaheb Phalke award winner after his name, and you might think he got it for a lifetime achievement. The government should say please don’t name all awards after Dadasaheb.”
What can the ministry do? Under what rule can we take action? You can’t stop them, since they’re not exactly copying the name. They twist and use the name and organise a function.
ASHOK KUMAR PARMAR,
JOINT SECRETARY (FILMS), I&B MINISTRY