Mithun Chakraborty to Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, known for his versatile contributions to Indian cinema, will be honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony on October 8, 2024. At 74, Mithun Chakraborty expressed his overwhelming joy, dedicating the honour to his family and fans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw congratulated him on his achievement, highlighting his enduring legacy in Indian cinema.
Mithun Chakraborty made his debut with the 1976 film Mrigayaa, winning the National Award for Best Actor. He gained immense popularity with the 1982 film Disco Dancer and starred in several other hits such as Surakshaa, Pyar Jhukta Nahin, Dance Dance, and Agneepath. He has won three National Film Awards and continues to be a household name, balancing both Bollywood and Bengali cinema.
In 2024, Mithun Chakraborty was also honoured with the Padma Bhushan Award, solidifying his status as a cultural icon. He has ventured into digital platforms with Bestseller and continues to inspire through reality shows like Dance India Dance.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest cinematic honour, instituted in 1969 in memory of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema. Mithun Chakraborty becomes the 54th recipient, joining the ranks of legends like Raj Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, and Waheeda Rehman, among others.
| Year | Recipient | Film Industry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Devika Rani | Hindi | Acknowledged as “the first lady of Indian cinema,” she debuted in Karma (1933) and founded Bombay Talkies in 1934. |
| 1970 | Birendranath Sircar | Bengali | Founder of two production companies and considered a pioneer of Indian cinema. |
| 1971 | Prithviraj Kapoor | Hindi | Starred in India’s first sound film, Alam Ara (1931), and founded Prithvi Theatre. |
| 1972 | Pankaj Mullick | Bengali, Hindi | Composer and actor, known for his musical contributions, especially Mahishasuramardini (1931). |
| 1973 | Ruby Myers (Sulochana) | Hindi | Considered the first sex symbol of Indian cinema, she debuted with Veer Bala (1925). |
| 1974 | B. N. Reddy | Telugu | Director of fifteen feature films; first Indian film personality to receive the Padma Bhushan. |
| 1975 | Dhirendra Nath Ganguly | Bengali | A founder of the Bengali film industry, established several production companies. |
| 1976 | Kanan Devi | Bengali | First lady of Bengali cinema, known for her singing and production efforts. |
| 1977 | Nitin Bose | Bengali, Hindi | Introduced playback singing to Indian cinema with Bhagya Chakra. |
| 1978 | Raichand Boral | Bengali, Hindi | A pioneer in Indian film music, collaborated to introduce playback singing. |
| 1979 | Sohrab Modi | Hindi | Credited with bringing Shakespearean classics to Indian cinema. |
| 1980 | Paidi Jairaj | Hindi | Known for his portrayal of historical characters and involvement in the Filmfare Awards. |
| 1981 | Naushad | Hindi | Music director credited with introducing sound mixing techniques. |
| 1982 | L. V. Prasad | Telugu, Tamil, Hindi | Acted in the first talkie films in three languages; founded Prasad Studios. |
| 1983 | Durga Khote | Hindi, Marathi | Pioneer among women in Indian cinema, involved in producing short films and documentaries. |
| 1984 | Satyajit Ray | Bengali | Debuted with Pather Panchali, credited with bringing global recognition to Indian cinema. |
| 1985 | V. Shantaram | Hindi, Marathi | Produced and directed India’s first color film, Sairandhri. |
| 1986 | B. Nagi Reddy | Telugu | Established Vijaya Vauhini Studios, the biggest film studio in Asia at that time. |
| 1987 | Raj Kapoor | Hindi | Revered as “The Show Man”; notable for his performance in Awara. |
| 1988 | Ashok Kumar | Hindi | Known for iconic roles in films like Kismet and Achhut Kannya. |
| 1989 | Lata Mangeshkar | Hindi, Marathi | Renowned playback singer, known as the “nightingale of India”. |
| 1990 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao | Telugu | Starred in over 250 films, considered a legendary figure in Telugu cinema. |
| 1991 | Bhalji Pendharkar | Marathi | Filmmaker known for historical and social narratives in his films. |
| 1992 | Bhupen Hazarika | Assamese | Best known for his folk songs and ballads. |
| 1993 | Majrooh Sultanpuri | Hindi | Lyricist who wrote around 8000 songs for Hindi films. |
| 1994 | Dilip Kumar | Hindi | “Tragedy King” with a career spanning over six decades. |
| 1995 | Rajkumar | Kannada | Star of over 200 films; won a National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. |
| 1996 | Sivaji Ganesan | Tamil | First Indian actor to win a “Best Actor” award at an international film festival. |
| 1997 | Kavi Pradeep | Hindi | Best known for his patriotic songs. |
| 1998 | B. R. Chopra | Hindi | Established B. R. Films and known for films like Naya Daur and Mahabharat. |
| 1999 | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | Hindi | Known for middle-of-the-road cinema and films like Anand and Gol Maal. |
| 2000 | Asha Bhosle | Hindi, Marathi | Versatile playback singer with a career spanning decades. |
| 2001 | Yash Chopra | Hindi | Founder of Yash Raj Films, directed 22 Hindi films. |
| 2002 | Dev Anand | Hindi | Co-founded Navketan Films, known as the “evergreen star”. |
| 2003 | Mrinal Sen | Bengali, Hindi | Acclaimed filmmaker known for significant contributions to Indian cinema. |
| 2004 | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Malayalam | Pioneer of new wave cinema in Malayalam. |
| 2005 | Shyam Benegal | Hindi | Focused on women’s rights in his films. |
| 2006 | Tapan Sinha | Bengali, Hindi | Addressed social issues in his films. |
| 2007 | Manna Dey | Bengali, Hindi | Sang over 3500 songs and infused Indian classical music into popular music. |
| 2008 | V. K. Murthy | Hindi | Renowned cinematographer, known for lighting techniques in films. |
| 2009 | D. Ramanaidu | Telugu | Produced over 130 films in multiple languages and recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. |
| 2010 | K. Balachander | Tamil | Directed and produced over 100 films, recognized for his unique storytelling. |
| 2011 | Soumitra Chatterjee | Bengali | Collaborated frequently with Satyajit Ray; recognized internationally for his work. |
| 2012 | Pran | Hindi | Known for his compelling performances, primarily as a villain. |
| 2013 | Gulzar | Hindi | Acclaimed lyricist and director with a significant body of work. |
| 2014 | Shashi Kapoor | Hindi | Awarded for contributions as both actor and producer; revitalized Prithvi Theatre. |
| 2015 | Manoj Kumar | Hindi | Known for patriotic themes; dubbed “Bharat Kumar”. |
| 2016 | K. Viswanath | Telugu | Director recognized for films exploring the arts and aesthetics; received multiple National Film Awards. |
| 2017 | Vinod Khanna | Hindi | Known for his impactful performances and briefly ventured into politics. |
| 2018 | Amitabh Bachchan | Hindi | Iconic actor with a profound influence on Indian cinema; known for his baritone voice. |
| 2019 | Rajinikanth | Tamil | A legendary actor, awarded in 2021 due to pandemic delays. |
| 2020 | Asha Parekh | Hindi | Celebrated actress known as Jubilee Girl; recognized for her contributions to cinema and television. |
| 2021 | Waheeda Rehman | Hindi | Recognized for her versatile roles in Hindi cinema and received Padma awards for her contributions. |
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