31st National Film Awards

The 31st National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 1983.^[1] Ceremony took place in June 1984 and awards were given by then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.

31st National Film Awards
Awarded for	Best of Indian cinema in 1983
Awarded by	Directorate of Film Festivals
Presented by	Indira Gandhi (Prime Minister of India)
Presented on	June 1984 (1984-06)
Official website	dff.nic.in
Highlights
Best Feature Film	Adi Shankaracharya
Best Book	Cinemayude Lokam
Dadasaheb Phalke Award	Durga Khote
Most awards	Adi Shankaracharya (4)
← 30th National Film Awards 32nd →

Juries

Three different committees were formed for feature films, short films and books on cinema, headed by veteran director K. Balachander, S. Krishnaswamy and Justice G. D. Khosla respectively.^[1]

• Jury Members: Feature Films
  • K. Balachander (Chairperson) • Sai Paranjpye • M. T. Vasudevan Nair • Gangadhar Naskar • Meera Lakhia • Raghunath Seth • Madhu • Swapan Mullick • Iqbal Masud • Mrinalini Sarabhai • M. K. Binodini Devi • M. Prabhakar Reddy • K. K. Shukla • G. G. Mayekar • Marcus Bartley • Gautam Kaul • Raghava Menon • Jamuna
• Jury Members: Short Films
  • S. Krishnaswamy (Chairperson) • Clement Baptista • Prakash Jha • Vinod Mehra
• Jury Members: Books on Cinema
  • G. D. Khosla (Chairperson) • Vivek Bhattacharya • O. M. Anujan • Sukumar Dutta • V. K. Madhavan Kutty • Arun Khanna

Awards

Awards were divided into feature films, non-feature films and books written on Indian cinema.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Name of Award	Image	Awardee(s)	Awarded As	Awards
Dadasaheb Phalke Award		Durga Khote	Actor and Film producer	Swarna Kamal, ₹40,000 and a Shawl

Feature films

Feature films were awarded at All India as well as regional level. For 31st National Film Awards, a Sanskrit film, Adi Shankaracharya won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film also winning the maximum number of awards (four). Following were the awards given in each category:^[1]

All India Award

Following were the awards given:^[1]

Name of Award	Name of Film	Language	Awardee(s)	Cash Prize
Best Feature Film	Adi Shankaracharya	Sanskrit	Producer: NFDC	Swarna Kamal and ₹50,000/-
			Director: G. V. Iyer	Swarna Kamal and ₹25,000/-
	Citation: For its dedication, depth and power and the impressive skill with which it captures the Indian philosophical tradition.
Second Best Feature Film	Maya Miriga	Oriya	Producer: NFDC	Rajat Kamal and ₹30,000/-
			Director: Nirad N. Mohapatra	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
	Citation: For the sensitivity and compassion with which it depicts an aspect of middle class reality and its restrained and intelligent observation of people.
Best Feature Film on National Integration	Sookha	Hindi	Producer: M. S. Sathyu	Rajat Kamal and ₹30,000/-
			Director: M. S. Sathyu	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
	Citation: For its sincerity in the portrayal of basic human values that unify mankind.
Best Children's Film	Bhombal Sardar	Bengali	Producer: Government of West Bengal	Swarna Kamal and ₹20,000/-
			Director: Nripen Ganguly	Rajat Kamal and ₹20,000/-
	Citation: For its lively and lyrical description of a world seen through the eyes of a boy.
Best Debut Film of a Director	Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro	Hindi	Producer: NFDC Director: Kundan Shah	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For its treatment of contemporary theme with wit and humour.
Best Direction	Khandhar	Hindi	Mrinal Sen	Rajat Kamal only
	Citation: For its subtle blending of nostalgia and contemporary social comment and the powerful visual exploration of the theme.
Best Screenplay	Adi Shankaracharya	Sanskrit	G. V. Iyer	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For its rich texture, lyricism and cinematic elegance in its presentation of Shankaracharya as an embodiment of greatness.
Best Actor	Ardh Satya	Hindi	Om Puri	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For his authentic portrayal of the inner conflicts of a conscientious police officer.
Best Actress	Khandhar	Hindi	Shabana Azmi	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For the sensitivity with which she captures the tragic loneliness of the character of Jamini.
Best Child Artist	Malamukalile Daivam	Malayalam	Master Suresh	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/-
	Citation: For lively depiction of a wide range of emotions of a tribal lad.
Best Cinematography (Color)	Adi Shankaracharya	Sanskrit	Madhu Ambat	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For succeeding in capturing visually the spirit of the theme.
Best Cinematography (Black and White)	Neeraba Jhada	Oriya	• B. Bindhani  • Raj Shekhar	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For recording the stark realities of rural life in austere images.
Best Audiography	Adi Shankaracharya	Sanskrit	S. P. Ramanathan	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For the deft handling of the sound track to blend with the film's mood.
Best Editing	Khandhar	Hindi	Mrinmoy Chakraborty	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For his work which gives the film its structure, rhythm and brooding quality.
Best Art Direction	Mandi	Hindi	Nitish Roy	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For the inventive creation of a backdrop which admirably complemented the varying moods of the film.
Best Music Direction	Saagara Sangamam	Telugu	Ilaiyaraaja	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For his lively, rich and vigorous recreation of traditional music composition and inventive musical ideas adapted to the visual demands of drama.
Best Male Playback Singer	Saagara Sangamam	Telugu	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For his resonant and technically rich rendering of musical forms to enhance dramatic impact.
Best Female Playback Singer	M. L. A. Yedukondalu ("Yendho Beeda Vaade Gopaludu")	Telugu	P. Susheela	Rajat Kamal and ₹10,000/-
	Citation: For her fine flight of voice in the endearing of Gopal's magical childhood in the song "Gopaludu" from the film.
Special Jury Award	Nokkukuthi	Malayalam	Mankada Ravi Varma	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/-
	Citation: For successfully using a unique idiom to recreate a folk legend through dance and poetry.
Special Mention	Tarang	Hindi	Kumar Shahani	Certificate Only

Regional Award

The awards were given to the best films made in the regional languages of India. For feature films in English, Gujarati, Kashmiri and Punjabi language, award for Best Feature Film was not given.^[1]

Name of Award	Name of Film	Awardee(s)	Awards
Best Feature Film in Assamese	Alokar Ahban	Producer: Do-Re-Me Films	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: Kamal Hazarika	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For a realistic presentation of the theme of rural co-operatives in the handloom industry of Assam.
Best Feature Film in Bengali	Vasundhra	Producer: Sanjukta Films	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: Sekhar Chatterjee	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For its sincere attempt to depict the struggle against social injustice.
Best Feature Film in Hindi	Ardh Satya	Producer: Manmohan Shetty and Pradeep Uppoor	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: Govind Nihalani	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For its powerful exploration of a labyrinthine socio-political situation.
Best Feature Film in Kannada	Banker Margayya	Producer: T. S. Narasimhan and B. S. Somasundar	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: T. S. Nagabharana	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For a faithful and effective rendering of a classic Indian novel into the medium of cinema.
Best Feature Film in Malayalam	Malamukalile Daivam	Producer: Surya Mudra Films	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: P. N. Menon	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For the courageous effort to present the cause of tribals and their efforts to join the national mainstream.
Best Feature Film in Manipuri	Sanakeithel	Producer: Th. Doren	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: M. A. Singh	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For the sympathetic portrayal of a human relationship in the context of a social tragedy.
Best Feature Film in Marathi	Smruti Chitre	Producer: Vinayak Chaskar	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: Vijaya Mehta	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For its compassionate portrayal of an early woman writer and its compelling study of a tormented soul coming to terms with her social condition.
Best Feature Film in Oriya	Neeraba Jhada	Producer: Manmohan Mahapatra	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: Manmohan Mahapatra	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For sensitive narration of the looming tragedy of an uprooted rural community.
Best Feature Film in Tamil	Oru Indhiya Kanavu	Producer: T. P. Varadarajan and Vijayalakshmi Desikan	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: Komal Swaminathan	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For its honesty of purpose to articulate the cause of tribal welfare.
Best Feature Film in Telugu	Rangula Kala	Producer: K. Venkateswara Rao	Rajat Kamal and ₹15,000/-
		Director: B. Narsing Rao	Rajat Kamal and ₹7,500/-
	Citation: For a vivid portrayal of urban life as seen by a sensitive painter in search of his identification with the masses.

Non-Feature films

Following were the awards given:^[1]

Name of Award	Name of Film	Language	Awardee(s)	Cash Prize
Best Information Film	The Procession	English	Producer: Aurora Films Corporation Director: Anjan Bose	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/- Each
	Citation: For portraying the innocence of the Indian villager and making a political comment, with telling images of evocative sensitivity that needs no words.
Best Educational / Instructional Film	Oval Crop	English	Producer: Radha Narayanan Director: Mohi-ud-Din Mirza	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/- Each
	Citation: For its qualities of technical excellence combined with the precision of content so vital to making an instructional film which sustains the interests of an audience even with its mundane subject matter.
Best Promotional Film	Ekta Aur Anushasan	Hindi	Producer: K. S. Kulkarni Director: S. K. Sharma	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/- Each
	Citation: For its exuberant youthful energy, bringing forth of a sense of pride in the National Cadet Corps, with an enthusiasm for National Integration without falling into cliches.
Best Experimental Film	The Clown and The Dog	Hindi	Producer: Film and Television Institute of India Director: Sunny Joseph	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/- Each
	Citation: For its attempt to unfold the intellectual yearnings of youth for freedom if thought and action, interpreted in a brilliantly photographed stylised form.
Best Animation Film	Fire Games	English	Producer: Ranabir Ray Director: Ram Mohan Animator: Naik Satam and Bapu Parulekar	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/- Each
	Citation: For a highly professional standard of animation conceived and executed with great finesse.
	A Race With Death	English	Producer: B. R. Shedge Director: Yash Choudhary Animator: V. G. Samant and V. K. Wankhede	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/- Each
	Citation: For using media of animation with much skill for easy communication to any audience group - rural or urban.
Best Newsreel Cameraman	Tragedy of Gendi (Indian News Review No. 1799)	English	C. Ramani, Uday Shankar and S. L. Prasad	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/-
	Citation: For their well planned team work (in Indian News Review No. 1799) covering the scientific, technical, ceremonious and human aspects of a great event of national importance recording sensitive emotions of expectation and fulfilment during the launching of SLV-3.
Best News Film	Shelter	English	Film and Television Institute of India	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/-
	Citation: For its brave and sympathetic visual coverage and journalistic report of a controversial issue affecting the lives of the pavement dwellers of Bombay.
Special Mention	Jalshakti	Hindi	Producer: National Institute of Design Director: I. S. Mathur	Certificate only
	Thalam	Malayalam	Producer: Kerala State Film Development Corporation Director: Joy Mathew
	Energy-Merry-Go-Round	English	Producer: National Institute of Design
	Veer Savarkar (Biographical Film)	Marathi
	Handling Fuel Oils Fission Power 306 Rejuvenation (Scientific Film)	English
	Against Current Exploration Antartica (Exploration Film)	English
	• Cobra - The Snake God  • Perumkaliattam  • Leather Puppetry of Karnataka  • Nishan (Anthropological/Ethnographic Film)	• English  • Malayalam  • English  • Hindi
	Two Men and an Ideal (Historical Reconstruction Film)	English
	• Tambaccucha Samna  • Bidaai (Social Welfare)	• Marathi  • Hindi

Best Writing on Cinema

Following were the awards given:^[1]

Name of Award	Name of Book	Language	Awardee(s)	Cash Prize
Best Book on Cinema	Cinemayude Lokam	Malayalam	Author: Adoor Gopalakrishnan	Rajat Kamal and ₹5,000/-

Awards not given

Following were the awards not given as no film was found to be suitable for the award:^[1]

• Best Film on Family Welfare
• Best Lyrics
• Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
• Best Film on Social Documentation
• Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare
• Best Feature Film in English
• Best Feature Film in Punjabi