The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema, presented annually by the Government of India at the National Film Awards ceremony. It honors individuals for their outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. Instituted in 1969 to commemorate Dadasaheb Phalke, who is regarded as the father of Indian cinema and directed India's first full-length feature film Raja Harishchandra in 1913, the award includes a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹1,000,000 (about US$12,000). The recipients are selected by a committee of eminent personalities from the Indian film industry.
