National Film Award for Best Music Direction

National Film Award for Best Music Direction
National award for contributions to Indian Cinema
A. R. Rahman
Pritam
The 2022 recipients: A. R. Rahman and Pritam
Awarded forBest Music Direction and background score for a feature film of the year
Sponsored byNational Film Development Corporation of India
Reward(s)
  • Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus)
  • ₹2,00,000
First award1967 (Songs)
1994 (Background music)
Final award2022
Most recent winnerPritam (Songs)
A. R. Rahman (Background music)
Highlights
Most winsA. R. Rahman (7)
Total awarded53 (Songs)
10 (Background music)
First winnerK. V. Mahadevan

The National Film Award for Best Music Direction (the Silver Lotus Award) is an honour presented annually at the National Film Awards by the National Film Development Corporation of India to a musician who has composed the best score for films produced within the Indian film industry.[1] The award was first introduced at the 15th National Film Awards in 1967. At the 42nd National Film Awards, an award for "Best Background Score" was instituted. It was however discontinued after that, and it was not until 2009 that the category was re-introduced. Later, during the 70th National Film Awards both the categories — Best Background Score and Best Background Music were clubbed together and named as "Best Background Music". A total of 51 awards—including award for Best Background music—to 40 different composers.[2]

Although the Indian film industry produces films in around 20 languages and dialects,[1] the recipients of the award include those who have worked in seven major languages: Hindi (19 awards), Tamil (11 awards), Telugu (10 awards), Malayalam (9 awards), Bengali (7 awards), Kannada (5 awards) and Marathi (2 awards).

The first recipient of the award was K. V. Mahadevan who was honoured for his composition in the Tamil film Kandan Karunai (1967).[3] A. R. Rahman is the most frequent winner having won 7 awards. A. R. Rahman is also the only composer to have received a national award in his debut movie itself. Ilaiyaraaja has won it 5 times. Jaidev and Vishal Bhardwaj have won it three times each.[4] Four musicians—B. V. Karanth, K.V. Mahadevan, Satyajit Ray, Johnson and M. M. Keeravani have won the award twice each. Ilaiyaraaja is the only composer to have won the award for achieving in three different languages — Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam. While A. R. Rahman won the award for performing in two different languages — Tamil and Hindi (including one for his debut film) Roja (1992).[5][a]

Johnson won the inaugural "Best Background Score" award—for Sukrutham—in 1994. When the award was reinstated in 2009, Ilaiyaraaja won it for the Malayalam film Pazhassi Raja.[8]

Winners

Indicates winner for Best Background music
List of award recipients, showing the year (award ceremony), film(s) and language(s)
Year Recipient(s) Film(s) Language Refs.
1967
(15th) 		K. V. Mahadevan Kandan Karunai Tamil [9]
1968
(16th) 		Kalyanji Anandji Saraswatichandra Hindi [10]
1969
(17th) 		S. Mohinder Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai Punjabi [11]
1970
(18th) 		Madan Mohan Dastak Hindi [12]
1971
(19th) 		Jaidev Reshma Aur Shera Hindi
1972
(20th) 		Sachin Dev Burman Zindagi Zindagi Hindi [13]
1973
(21st) 		Satyajit Ray Ashani Sanket Bengali [14]
1974
(22nd) 		Ananda Shankar Chorus Bengali [15]
1975
(23rd) 		Bhupen Hazarika Chameli Memsaab Assamese [16]
1976
(24th) 		B. V. Karanth Rishya Shringa Kannada [17]
1977
(25th) 		B. V. Karanth Ghatashraddha Kannada [18]
1978
(26th) 		Jaidev Gaman Hindi [19]
1979
(27th) 		K. V. Mahadevan Sankarabharanam Telugu [20]
1980
(28th) 		Satyajit Ray Hirak Rajar Deshe Bengali [21]
1981
(29th) 		Khayyam Umrao Jaan Hindi [22]
1982
(30th) 		Ramesh Naidu Meghasandesam Telugu [23]
1983
(31st) 		Ilaiyaraaja Saagara Sangamam Telugu [24]
1984
(32nd) 		Jaidev Ankahee Hindi [25]
1985
(33rd) 		Ilaiyaraaja Sindhu Bhairavi Tamil [26]
1986
(34th) 		M. Balamuralikrishna Madhvacharya Kannada [27]
1987
(35th) 		Vanraj Bhatia Tamas Hindi [28]
1988
(36th) 		Ilaiyaraaja Rudra Veena Telugu [29]
1989
(37th) 		Sher Choudhury Wosobipo Karbi [30]
1990
(38th) 		Hridaynath Mangeshkar Lekin... Hindi [31]
1991
(39th) 		Rajat Dholakia Dharavi Hindi [32]
1992
(40th) 		A. R. Rahman Roja[a] Tamil [33]
1993
(41st) 		Johnson Ponthan Mada Malayalam [34]
1994
(42nd) 		Ravi
(As Bombay Ravi) 		 • Sukrutham
 • Parinayam 		Malayalam [35]
Johnson Sukrutham Malayalam
1995
(43rd) 		Hamsalekha Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai Kannada [36]
1996
(44th) 		A. R. Rahman Minsara Kanavu Tamil [37]
1997
(45th) 		M. M. Keeravani Annamayya Telugu [38]
1998
(46th) 		Vishal Bhardwaj Godmother Hindi [39]
1999
(47th) 		Ismail Darbar Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Hindi [40]
2000
(48th) 		Anu Malik Refugee Hindi [41]
2001
(49th) 		A. R. Rahman Lagaan Hindi [42]
2002
(50th) 		A. R. Rahman Kannathil Muthamittal Tamil [43]
2003
(51st) 		Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Kal Ho Naa Ho Hindi [44]
2004
(52nd) 		Vidyasagar Swarabhishekam Telugu [45]
2005
(53rd) 		Lalgudi Jayaraman Sringaram Tamil [46]
2006
(54th) 		Ashok Patki Antarnad Konkani [47]
2007
(55th) 		Ouseppachan Ore Kadal Malayalam [48]
2008
(56th) 		Ajay–Atul Jogwa Marathi [49]
2009
(57th) 		Amit Trivedi Dev.D Hindi [50]
Ilaiyaraaja Pazhassi Raja Malayalam
2010
(58th) 		Vishal Bhardwaj Ishqiya Hindi [51]
Isaac Thomas Kottukapally Adaminte Makan Abu Malayalam
2011
(59th) 		Neel Dutt Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona Bengali [52]
Mayookh Bhaumik Laptop Bengali
2012
(60th) 		Shailendra Barve Samhita Marathi [53]
Bijibal Kaliyachan Malayalam
2013
(61st) 		Kabir Suman Jaatishwar Bengali [54]
Shantanu Moitra Naa Bangaaru Talli Telugu
2014
(62nd) 		Vishal Bhardwaj Haider Hindi [55]
Gopi Sundar 1983 Malayalam
2015
(63rd) 		M. Jayachandran Ennu Ninte Moideen Malayalam [56]
Ilaiyaraaja Tharai Thappattai Tamil
2016
(64th) 		Bapu Padmanabha Allama Kannada [57]
Allama Kannada
2017
(65th) 		A. R. Rahman Kaatru Veliyidai Tamil [58]
Mom Hindi
2018
(66th) 		Sanjay Leela Bhansali Padmaavat Hindi [59]
Shashwat Sachdev Uri: The Surgical Strike Hindi
2019
(67th) 		D. Imman Viswasam Tamil
Prabuddha Banerjee Jyeshthoputro Bengali
2020
(68th) 		Thaman S Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo Telugu [60]
G. V. Prakash Kumar Soorarai Pottru Tamil
2021
(69th) 		Devi Sri Prasad Pushpa: The Rise Telugu [61]
M. M. Keeravani RRR Telugu
2022
(70th) 		Pritam Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva Hindi [62]
A. R. Rahman Ponniyin Selvan: I Tamil

Notes

  1. ^ a b The jury of the 40th National Film Awards were tied between Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja—for Thevar Magan—before Balu Mahendra, the chairman voted in favour of Rahman.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b "About National Film Awards". Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  2. ^ Under Secretary to the Government of India (14 December 2023). "Report on Rationalization of Awards Conferred by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting | Government of India". Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  3. ^ Narayanan, Arjun (13 December 2009). "Much more than the name of a raga". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  4. ^ Parvez, Amjad (21 December 2010). "Jaidev and his unforgettable music". Daily Times (Pakistan). Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  5. ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (16 June 2006). "Of rhythm and soul". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  6. ^ Mathai, Kamini (2009). A.R. Rahman: The Musical Storm. Penguin Books India. pp. 99–100. ISBN 978-0-670-08371-8. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  7. ^ Moviebuzz (15 July 2011). "Everybody wants a piece of ARR!". Sify. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  8. ^ Karthikeyan, D. (15 July 2011). "Three gems who changed the course of cinema". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  9. ^ "15th National Film Awards" (PDF). International Film Festival of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  10. ^ "16th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  11. ^ "17th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  12. ^ "18th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  13. ^ "20th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  14. ^ "21st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  15. ^ "22nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  16. ^ "23rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  17. ^ Murali, Janaki (6 September 2002). "Trust plans all round tribute to B.V. Karanth". The Hindu. Bangalore. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  18. ^ "25th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  19. ^ "26th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  20. ^ Narayanan, Arjun (13 December 2009). "Much more than the name of a raga". Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  21. ^ "28th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  22. ^ "29th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  23. ^ "30th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  24. ^ "31st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  25. ^ "32nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  26. ^ "33rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  27. ^ "34th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  28. ^ "35th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  29. ^ "36th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  30. ^ "37th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  31. ^ "38th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  32. ^ "39th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  33. ^ "40th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  34. ^ "41st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  35. ^ "42nd National Film Awards (PDF)" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 6–7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  36. ^ "43rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  37. ^ "44th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  38. ^ "45th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  39. ^ "46th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  40. ^ "47th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  41. ^ "48th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  42. ^ "49th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  43. ^ "50th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  44. ^ "51st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  45. ^ "52nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  46. ^ "53rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  47. ^ "54th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  48. ^ "55th National Film Awards (PDF)" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 14–15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  49. ^ "56th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  50. ^ "57th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  51. ^ "58th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  52. ^ "59th National Film Awards for the Year 2011 Announced". Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  53. ^ "60th National Film Awards Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  54. ^ "61st National Film Awards Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  55. ^ "62nd National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. 24 March 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  56. ^ "63rd National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. 28 March 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  57. ^ "64th National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  58. ^ "65th National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  59. ^ "National Film Awards 2019: Full winners list". The Indian Express. 10 August 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  60. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (22 July 2022). "68th National Film Awards | Updates". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 July 2022. {cite news}: |last= has generic name (help)
  61. ^ "69th National Film Awards 2023 complete winners list: Rocketry, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Allu Arjun, RRR, Gangubai Kathiawadi win big". 24 August 2023.
  62. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (16 August 2024). "70th National Film Awards: Rishab Shetty wins Best Actor for 'Kantara,' 'Aattam' bags Best Feature Film". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 August 2024. {cite news}: |last= has generic name (help)