Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 22 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday honoured eminent singer Manna Dey with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema.

Dey, who received a standing ovation from the audience, was felicitated with a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a shawl, and a golden lotus.

Manna Dey termed the award ‘overwhelming and flattering.’

“The very fact that they have chosen me, this kind of award is really overwhelming and flattering, I am really flattered,” he said.

Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra also received an award on behalf of his filmmaker son Aditya Chopra.

Aditya Chopra’s “Chak De! India”, a film about field hockey in India, was named the best film in overall entertainment for 2007.

“I feel very honoured and proud that we have made the film Chak De! India. Today the word ‘Chak de India’ is like a logo in every success whether it is sports field or any other field and we have contributed a little for that is great feeling,” said Yash Chopra.

The National Film Awards aim at encouraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance contributing to the understanding and appreciation of cultures of different regions of the country in cinematic form, thereby also promoting integration and unity of the nation.

In the feature film section, the awards are given in 31 categories, which include Award for Best Feature Film, Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a director, Award For Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Award For Best Direction, Actor, Actress, Editing, Lyrics and Choreography.

In the non-feature film section, awards are given in 22 categories like Best Non-Feature Film, Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction/Compilation Film, Special Jury Award and Best Audiography.

National Award for Best Writing on cinema and Best Film Critic are also given.

The awards aim at encouraging study and appreciation of cinema as an art form and dissemination of information and critical appreciation of this art-form through publication of books, articles and reviews. (ANI)