Describing cinema as India’s soft power, President Pratibha Patil on October 21, 2009 said that more needed to be done to create social change through films. Speaking at the 55th National Film Awards for 2007, Patil said cinema should not only be a source of popular entertainment for families and individuals, but also a vehicle of social change. The President also awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke award to legendary singer Manna Dey. Expressing his happiness at the award, Dey says he is overwhelmed and it feels absolutely great. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said that in an effort to make the awards more contemporary and focused, a panel of eminent experts would soon be constituted to advise the government. She said the National Film Awards needed to reflect newer developments that were happening in the field of cinema. There is a need to re-invent the National Film Awards to make it more contemporary, she concludes.
From singer Manna Dey to veteran director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, the biggest names in Indian cinema gathered in New Delhi for the 55th National Film Awards. Eminent play back singer, Manna Dey received the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award. Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan received the Best Director Award for his film ‘Naalu Pennungal’. National Award winner for 2007, actress Uma Shree collected her coveted trophy. Filmmaker Priyadarshan's Tamil film ‘Kanchivaram’, got the Best Feature Film award, while Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Chak De India’ received the award in Wholesome Entertainment Category. Tamil actor Prakash Raj got the best actor award for his role in ‘Kanchivaram’. Aamir Khan-directed ‘Taare Zameen Par’ won the award in Family Welfare Category. Playback singer Shankar Mahadevan recieved the Best Male Playback Singer Award for the song ‘Maa’ in the film ‘Taare Zameen Par’, while Prasoon Joshi bagged the Best Lyricist Award for the same song. Shreya Ghoshal, who performed the song ‘Ye ishq hai’ from the flick ‘Jab We Met’ at the award function, received the Best Female Playback Singer Award for the same song. The Best Child Actor Award went to Sharad Goyekar for his role in the Marathi film ‘Tingya’. Actor Darshan Zariwala received the best supporting actor award for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in Feroz Abbas Khan's film ‘Gandhi- My Father’. Actor-producer Anil Kapoor was given the special jury award for his film ‘Gandhi, My Father’. Bollywood Actress Sonam Kapoor accepted the award on behalf of father Anil Kapoor. Well-known dance director Saroj Khan bagged the Best Choreography Award for ‘Ye ishq hai’ and her award was received by Shabnam Khan. Sabu Cyril received the award for Best Art Direction for ‘Om Shanti Om’. Shefali Shah got it for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in ‘The Last Lear’.
