The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s most prestigious recognition in the field of cinema, stands as a tribute to Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, fondly known as the Father of Indian Cinema. Presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, this award honours individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement and enrichment of Indian cinema. It celebrates lifelong dedication, creativity, and excellence that have helped shape the nation’s cinematic heritage.
History of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Instituted in 1969, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was first conferred upon the legendary filmmaker Devika Rani for her remarkable contributions to Indian cinema. Presented during the National Film Awards ceremony, the recipient is selected by a committee of renowned filmmakers, actors, and cinema experts. Over the decades, this prestigious honour has evolved into the highest recognition in Indian cinema, celebrating excellence across various fields such as acting, direction, production, music composition, and more, acknowledging those who have shaped the industry’s rich legacy.
Why is the Dadasaheb Phalke Award given to Mohanlal?
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was given to Mohanlal in 2025 for his outstanding lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. With a career spanning over four decades, he has acted in more than 400 films across Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, showcasing unmatched versatility in roles ranging from intense dramas to lighthearted comedies. Mohanlal’s powerful performances, National Film Awards, and prestigious civilian honours like the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan highlight his immense impact on Indian film. Honouring him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award not only celebrates his achievements but also brings global recognition to Malayalam cinema’s rich legacy.
List of Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winners
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s most prestigious recognition in the field of cinema, presented every year by the Government of India. Named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, fondly known as the Father of Indian Cinema, this award honors individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the growth and enrichment of Indian cinema.
Below is the complete list of Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winners from 1969 to 2025, celebrating the legends who have shaped the Indian film industry with their extraordinary talent and dedication.
| List of Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winners | ||
| Year (Ceremony) | Recipient | Film Industry |
| 1969 (17th NFA) | Devika Rani | Hindi |
| 1970 (18th NFA ) | Birendranath Sircar | Bengali |
| 1971 (19th NFA) | Prithviraj Kapoor | Hindi |
| 1972 (20th NFA) | Pankaj Mullick | Bengali and Hindi |
| 1973 (21st NFA) | Ruby Myers (Sulochana) | Hindi |
| 1974 (22nd NFA) | B. N. Reddy | Telugu |
| 1975 (23rd NFA) | Dhirendra Nath Ganguly | Bengali |
| 1976 (24th NFA) | Kanan Devi | Bengali |
| 1977 (25th NFA) | Nitin Bose | Bengali and Hindi |
| 1978 (26th NFA) | Raichand Boral | Bengali and Hindi |
| 1979 (27th NFA) | Sohrab Modi | Hindi |
| 1980 (28th NFA) | Paidi Jairaj | Hindi |
| 1981 (29th NFA) | Naushad | Hindi |
| 1982 (30th NFA) | L. V. Prasad | Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi |
| 1983 (31st NFA) | Durga Khote | Hindi and Marathi |
| 1984 (32nd NFA) | Satyajit Ray | Bengali |
| 1985 (33rd NFA) | V. Shantaram | Hindi and Marathi |
| 1986 (34th NFA) | B. Nagi Reddy | Telugu |
| 1987 (35th NFA) | Raj Kapoor | Hindi |
| 1988 (36th NFA) | Ashok Kumar | Hindi |
| 1989 (37th NFA) | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi and Marathi |
| 1990 (38th NFA) | Akkineni Nageswara Rao | Telugu |
| 1991 (39th NFA) | Bhalji Pendharkar | Marathi |
| 1992 (40th NFA) | Bhupen Hazarika | Assamese |
| 1993 (41st NFA) | Majrooh Sultanpuri | Hindi |
| 1994 (42nd NFA) | Dilip Kumar | Hindi |
| 1995 (43rd NFA) | Rajkumar | Kannada |
| 1996 (44th NFA) | Sivaji Ganesan | Tamil |
| 1997 (45th NFA) | Kavi Pradeep | Hindi |
| 1998 (46th NFA) | B. R. Chopra | Hindi |
| 1999 (47th NFA) | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | Hindi |
| 2000 (48th NFA) | Asha Bhosle | Hindi and Marathi |
| 2001 (49th NFA) | Yash Chopra | Hindi |
| 2002 (50th NFA) | Dev Anand | Hindi |
| 2003 (51st NFA) | Mrinal Sen | Bengali and Hindi |
| 2004 (52nd NFA) | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Malayalam |
| 2005 (53rd NFA) | Shyam Benegal | Hindi |
| 2006 (54th NFA) | Tapan Sinha | Bengali and Hindi |
| 2007 (55th NFA) | Manna Dey | Bengali and Hindi |
| 2008 (56th NFA) | V. K. Murthy | Hindi |
| 2009 (57th NFA) | D. Ramanaidu | Telugu |
| 2010 (58th NFA) | K. Balachander | Tamil |
| 2011 (59th NFA) | Soumitra Chatterjee | Bengali |
| 2012 (60th NFA) | Pran | Hindi |
| 2013 (61st NFA) | Gulzar | Hindi |
| 2014 (62nd NFA) | Shashi Kapoor | Hindi |
| 2015 (63rd NFA) | Manoj Kumar | Hindi |
| 2016 (64th NFA) | K. Vishwanath | Telugu |
| 2017 (65th NFA) | Vinod Khanna | Hindi |
| 2018 (66th NFA) | Amitabh Bachchan | Hindi |
| 2019 (67th NFA) | Rajinikanth (Announced) | Tamil |
| 2020 (68th NFA) | Asha Parekh | Hindi |
| 2021 (69th NFA) | Waheeda Rahman | Hindi |
| 2022 (70th NFA) | Mithun Chakraborty | Bengali and Hindi |
| 2023 (71st NFA) | Mohanlal Viswanathan | Malyalam |
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award stands as one of the highest honors in Indian cinema, celebrating exceptional talent and lifelong contributions to the film industry. It recognizes artists, filmmakers, composers, and performers who have redefined storytelling and elevated Indian cinema to international acclaim.
By continuing this proud tradition of honoring excellence, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award preserves the legacy of visionary creators whose work has shaped generations of filmmakers and continues to inspire the future of Indian cinema.
