List of Dadasaheb Phalke Award Recipients Over The Years

(From left) Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth are among the recipients of prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award.

Dadasaheb Phalke Birth Anniversary: Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest award for film personalities in the country to recognize valuable contribution in Indian cinema’s development

DADASAHEB PHALKE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: Born on April 30, 1870, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke came from a small town in Bombay Presidency. Known as Dadasaheb Phalke, he was director, producer screenwriter, editor and distributor. He is regarded as the Father of Indian Cinema for giving the country its first full-length feature film. The indigenous silent film was titled, Raja Harishchandra (1913).

Dadasaheb Phalke Birth Anniversary: In 1971, India post released a stamp bearing Dadasaheb’s character in his reverence. (Image: Shutterstock)

In a 19-year-career span, he worked on 95 feature films and 27 short films. His last film, Gangavataran (1937) was the only film made by Dadasaheb with sound and dialogues.

After his death in 1944, the Government of India initiated an award on his name titled The Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969. It is the highest award for film personalities in the country to recognize valuable contribution in Indian cinema’s development. In 1971, India post released a stamp bearing Dadasaheb’s character in his reverence.

Here are the winners of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award since its inception in 1969. Devika Rani was the first recipient of the prestigious award.