| National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | |
|---|---|
| National award for contributions to Indian Cinema | |
| Sponsored by | Directorate of Film Festivals |
| Formerly called |
|
| Reward(s) |
|
| First awarded | 1974 |
| Last awarded | 2021 |
| Most recent winner | RRR |
| Highlights | |
| Total awarded | 44 |
| First winner | Kora Kagaz |
| Website | http://dff.gov.in/  |
The National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, India, and was constituted in the year 1975. This is one of the Golden Lotus Awards (Swarna Kamal) given among National Film Awards. It is announced for films produced in a year across the country, in all Indian languages.
Films in the following languages have won the Best Popular Feature Film award: Hindi (29 awards), Telugu (6 awards), Tamil (4 awards), Malayalam (3 awards), Bengali (2 awards), and Kannada (1 award).
With 6 wins, Yash Raj Films is the production house with the most wins. With 5 wins, Yash Chopra is the producer with the most wins, producing most of the company's winning films. He has also directed 4 winning films, the most for any director. Shah Rukh Khan has starred in 7 winning films, the most for any actor in a leading role. Madhuri Dixit and Kajol have each starred in 3 winning films, the most for any actress in a leading role.
| Indicates a joint award for that year |
| List of films, showing the year (award ceremony), language(s), producer(s), director(s) and citation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film(s) | Language(s) | Producer(s) | Director(s) | Citation | Refs. |
| 1974 (22nd) |
Kora Kagaz[a] | Hindi | Sanat Kothari for Shreeji Films | Anil Ganguly | – | [1] |
| 1975 (23rd) |
Tapasya | Hindi | Rajshri Productions | Anil Ganguly | – | [2] |
| 1976 (24th) |
No Award | [3] | ||||
| 1977 (25th) |
Swami | Hindi | Jaya Charavarthy | Basu Chatterjee |
For a taut script, for restrained, mature and dignified performances (especially by Girish Karnad), for meticulous attention to detail, for maintaining the spirit of the original story and translating it into the film medium with effectiveness and grace, for giving an old theme a contemporary relevance, for providing that it is possible to make a film with popular appeal without surrendering psychological truth or artistic values.
|
[4] |
| 1978 (26th) |
Ganadevata | Bengali | • Department of Information and Cultural Affairs • Government of West Bengal |
Tarun Majumdar |
For brilliant picturisation of modern literary classic. Like the novel, film succeeds in capturing a whole era in transition. Steering clear of both commercial vulgarisation and pretentiousness, the film uses all the cinematic, to effectively communicate to the masses.
|
[5] |
| 1979 (27th) |
Sankarabharanam | Telugu | Edida Nageswara Rao | K. Viswanath |
Powerful presentation of the teacher-student relationship, highlights the urgent need of revival of Indian classical music through a powerful protagonist. For a creative use of classical music as a metaphor for popular cinematic narrative and entertainment.
|
[6] |
| 1980 (28th) |
No Award | [7] | ||||
| 1981 (29th) |
No Award | [8] | ||||
| 1982 (30th) |
No Award | [9] | ||||
| 1983 (31st) |
No Award | [10] | ||||
| 1984 (32nd) |
Koni | Bengali | Government of West Bengal | Saroj Dey | – | [11] |
| 1985 (33rd) |
No Award | [12] | ||||
| 1986 (34th) |
Samsaram Adhu Minsaram | Tamil | AVM Productions | Visu |
For its entertaining presentation of a complex contemporary social problem – the disintegration of the joint family.
|
[13] |
| 1987 (35th) |
Pushpaka Vimana | Kannada | • Singeetam Srinivasa Rao • Shringar Nagaraj |
Singeetam Srinivasa Rao |
For its innovative approach to entertainment.
|
[14] |
| 1988 (36th) |
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak | Hindi | Nasir Hussain Films | Mansoor Khan |
For presenting fresh and clean charm on celluloid with discerning imagination.
|
[15] |
| 1989 (37th) |
Chandni | Hindi | Yash Raj Films | Yash Chopra |
For providing clean and romantic entertainment illuminated with smooth performances and fresh lyrics in folk form.
|
[16] |
| Geethanjali | Telugu | Bhagyalakshmi Enterprises | Mani Ratnam |
For its innovative approach in depicting youthful passion.
| ||
| 1990 (38th) |
Ghayal | Hindi | Dharmendra | Rajkumar Santoshi |
For being thematically highly credible, emotionally very well-woven, logically executed, and technically superb film.
|
[17] |
| 1991 (39th) |
No Award | [18] | ||||
| 1992 (40th) |
Sargam | Malayalam | Bhavani | Hariharan |
For its delighful rendering of a family saga into a heartwarming musical film.
|
[19] |
| 1993 (41st) |
Manichitrathazhu | Malayalam | Appachan | Fazil |
For handling an unusual subject of psychological aberration in a conservative society and the ultimate acceptance of a modern approach.
|
[20] |
| Darr | Hindi | Yash Chopra | Yash Chopra |
For its convincing presentation of the theme of love, which has been rendered complex by its relationship with past experiences of fear.
| ||
| 1994 (42nd) |
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! | Hindi | Rajshri Productions | Sooraj R. Barjatya |
For revolutionising mass entertainment in India with a family entertainer and a fantasy film that succeeds without recourse to familiar narrative idioms of violence.
|
[21] |
| 1995 (43rd) |
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | Hindi | Yash Chopra | Aditya Chopra |
For providing meaningful family entertainment through a simple love story with kindness and sensitivity.
|
[22] |
| 1996 (44th) |
Maachis | Hindi | R. V. Pandit | Gulzar |
For powerful depiction of Punjab situation, exploring the trauma, conflict and tragedy of the youth in Punjab.
|
[23] |
| 1997 (45th) |
Dil To Pagal Hai | Hindi | Yash Chopra | Yash Chopra |
For its clean, fun-loving portrayal of young people in the film that moves effortlessly and avoids any signs of violence or vulgarity.
|
[24] |
| 1998 (46th) |
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | Hindi | Yash Johar | Karan Johar |
For the irresistible charm and universal appeal of its story, music, dance and performances.
|
[25] |
| 1999 (47th) |
Sarfarosh | Hindi | John Matthew Matthan | John Matthew Matthan |
For its engrossing projection of an honest officer, who fights engineered subversion which fuels suspicion and sours relationship between two communities. A bold subject for the debut film of a director in mainstream cinema.
|
[26] |
| 2000 (48th) |
Vaanathaippola | Tamil | V. Ravichandran | Vikraman |
For its sincere projection of the values of a joint family and the need to share good and difficult times together.
|
[27] |
| 2001 (49th) |
Lagaan | Hindi | Aamir Khan | Ashutosh Gowariker |
For showing the victory of the human spirit in the face of oppression and for the creative use of a Cricket game as a metaphor for both colonisation and nationalism.
|
[28] |
| 2002 (50th) |
Devdas | Hindi | Bharat Shah | Sanjay Leela Bhansali |
For its technical finesse and its modern reinterpretation of an enduring classic.
|
[29] |
| 2003 (51st) |
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. | Hindi | Vidhu Vinod Chopra | Rajkumar Hirani |
For dealing with social issues with humour and compassion.
|
[30] |
| 2004 (52nd) |
Veer-Zaara | Hindi | Yash Raj Films | Yash Chopra |
For invoking a touching tale of love highlighting the importance of human relationship above man-made boundaries.
|
[31] |
| Autograph | Tamil | Cheran | Cheran |
For invoking nostalgia in a manner that is powerful yet poetic.
| ||
| 2005 (53rd) |
Rang De Basanti | Hindi | • UTV Motion Pictures • Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures |
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra |
For creating popular appeal that captures the angst of the younger generation with compassion and imagination.
|
[32] |
| 2006 (54th) |
Lage Raho Munna Bhai | Hindi | Vidhu Vinod Chopra | Rajkumar Hirani |
For revalidating the philosophy of non-violence in a strife-torn world and helping rediscover the Gandhi within the common man.
|
[33] |
| 2007 (55th) |
Chak De! India | Hindi | Aditya Chopra | Shimit Amin |
For thoroughly entertaining the audience, making one proud to be an Indian. A masterpiece of inspired filmmaking.
|
[34] |
| 2008 (56th) |
Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! | Hindi | UTV Motion Pictures | Dibakar Banerjee |
For its intelligent treatment of an off-beat subject that makes it different within the popular format.
|
[35] |
| 2009 (57th) |
3 Idiots | Hindi | Vidhu Vinod Chopra | Rajkumar Hirani |
For an intelligent entertainer that touches upon the contemporary concerns of society with great humour and engaging performances.
|
[36] |
| 2010 (58th) |
Dabangg | Hindi | • Arbaaz Khan • Malaika Arora Khan • Dhillin Mehta |
Abhinav Kashyap |
For responding to the need of cinegoers for "mast" entertainment that is rooted in Indian soil.
|
[37] |
| 2011 (59th) |
Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai | Tamil | P. Madhan | Suseenthiran |
For redefining conventional notions of modern entertainment and still gaining acceptance in the mainstream. The director boldly sets out to narrate a fable revolving around temple rituals within a completely realistic framework of farmers, politicians and the poor families of rural Tamil Nadu. His engagement with filmic language is as robust as the emotional graphs charted out by a massive ensemble of characters.
|
[38] |
| 2012 (60th) |
Vicky Donor | Hindi | • Sunil Lulla • John Abraham • Ronnie Lahiri • Ram Mirchandani |
Shoojit Sircar |
A wholesome entertainer presented in a breezy and humorous fashion. The film-maker has deftly avoided falling into the beaten track of formula films by presenting the sensitive subject of sperm donation without pandering to the baser instincts of the average viewer.
|
[39] |
| Ustad Hotel | Malayalam | Listin Stephen | Anwar Rasheed |
An excellent advertisement for 'Desi Enterprise', the film conveys a strong message of seeking realization, compassion and contentment through service to the society at large!
| ||
| 2013 (61st) |
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag | Hindi | Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra | Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra |
For retaining the story and values of a great sportsman and translating it into the cinematic medium with aplomb.
|
[40] |
| 2014 (62nd) |
Mary Kom | Hindi | Sanjay Leela Bhansali | Omung Kumar |
For an inspiring tale of a woman who becomes a national icon through her determined pursuit of sporting excellence..
|
[41] |
| 2015 (63rd) |
Bajrangi Bhaijaan | Hindi | • Salman Khan • Rockline Venkatesh |
Kabir Khan |
For tackling an important social issue in the simple heart-warming & entertaining format.
|
[42] |
| 2016 (64th) |
Sathamanam Bhavati | Telugu | V. Venkata Ramana Reddy | Satish Vegesna |
In appreciation of providing a feeling of jubilation by respecting family values in an unexplored manner.
|
[43] |
| 2017 (65th) |
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Telugu | • Shobu Yarlagadda • Prasad Devineni |
S. S. Rajamouli | – | [44] |
| 2018 (66th) |
Badhaai Ho | Hindi | Junglee Pictures Limited | Amit Sharma |
The film breaks the stereotype of middle age pregnancy through easy narrative, effective characterization and pithy dialogues.
|
[45] |
| 2019 (67th) |
Maharshi | Telugu | Sri Venkateswara Creations | Vamshi Paidipally |
The concept of the film that ingeniously addresses through the protagonist the necessity of our present globally spread youth to get into the grass roots of our culture and encounter the freshly brewed challenges of globalization in the prime area of agriculture.
|
[46] |
| 2020 (68th) |
Tanhaji : The Unsung Warrior | Hindi | Ajay Devgn | Om Raut |
For bringing alive on screen exploits of an unsung warrior of the 17th century who continues to arouse renewed interest and patriotic fervour.
|
[47] |
| 2021 (69th) |
RRR | Telugu | D. V. V. Danayya | S. S. Rajamouli |
For garnering international acclaim through an epic, emotional story featuring two prominent freedom fighters, with a touch of patriotism.
|
[48] |
