New Delhi: Yash Chopra, producer of Bollywood blockbusters like 'Deewar', 'Kabhi Kabhi' and 'Dil to Pagal Hai', on February 13 received the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award, the topmost honour in the film industry from President A P J Abdul Kalam amidst standing ovation.

Kalam also gave away the 49th National Film Awards in several categories, eight of which went to Aamir Khan's 'Lagaan', which lost out in the race for Oscar last year.

Actor Aamir Khan received the award for 'Lagaan' directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar in the best popular film category.

Renowned actress Tabu shared the best actress award for her sensitive depiction of a beer bar dancer in 'Chandni Bar', with South Indian star Shobhana for her role of a lonely mother in 'Mitr-My Friend'.

Malayalam actor Murali was given the best actor award for his role in 'Neythukaran' (the weave), which revolves around a committed political worker caught in a web of shifting values.

Girish Kasaravalli was presented the award for best feature film for his 'Dweepa', while B Lenin took the award for best director for Tamil film 'Oruku Nooruper' (hundred people in a hamlet), a tale of a revolutionary.

Departing from the three-year old tradition, Kalam made a brief speech in which he told the film personalities to win the hearts of people with their "stories, smiles and songs and reduce the pains" of those suffering from heart ailments.

He said that at a teleconference with 500 heart surgeons on February 13 morning, he was told that heart diseases afflicted Indians because of lack of exercise, high fat diet and sufferings.

The President also made a reference to his favourite subject – children – and spoke of his dream for a prosperous, safe and happy India. "I have met 120,000 children from various parts of the country," he said.

While giving away the award for best child artiste to Baby P Shwetha for her role in Tamil film 'Kutty', Kalam gave his autograph to her.

'Lagaan' also took the awards for best lyrics, (Javed Akhtar), choreography (Raju Khan), audiography (H Sridhar and Nakul Kamte), art direction (Chandrakant Desai), playback singing (Udit Narayan for 'Mitwa o Mitwa') and costume designing (Bhanu Athaiya).

A R Rahman, who got best music direction award for 'Lagaan' was not present at the ceremony.

Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Chandni Bar', the poignant story of innocent girls getting trapped in a vicious circle, also bagged the award of best film on social issues. Atul Kulkarni won the award for the best supporting actor in the film, while Annanya Khare was adjudged the best supporting actress in it.

Another popular film Farhan Akhtar's 'Dil Chahta Hai' was adjudged the best feature film in Hindi for "artistically and humourously" portraying the growing up years of young people in modern society.

Udit Narayan was also adjudged the best playback singer for "Jaane kyon log pyaar karte hain" in the film. The best female playback singer award went to Sadhana Sargam for "Paatu cholli" in Tamil film 'Udayageethavin Azhahi'.

Revathy's 'Mitr-My Friend', which has an all-woman cast, bagged the awards for best feature film in English and best editing for Beena Paul.

In his address, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said films were an important agenda of his priorities and reflected the most vibrant form of society.

"If '90s was the decade of Information Technology, let the first decade of the 21st Century be declared that of the entertainment industry. I as a Minister will do all that I can," he said.

While the Dada Saheb Phalke award comprises a 'swarna kamal' (golden lotus), a shawl and Rs two lakh, the other awards comprise a cash component between Rs 50,000 to Rs 10,000 and a 'swarna kamal' or 'rajat kamal' (silver lotus).

However, there were no awards in some categories, including children's film, family welfare and environment preservation.

The Dutt award for best feature film on national integration went to Jyoti Swarup's Kashmiri film 'Bub' on problems of the minority in the face of terrorist activities.

Telugu film 'Tiladaanam' was given the Indira Gandhi award for the best first feature film of a director, while H M Ramachandra Halkere bagged the best cinematography award for the Kannada film 'Dweepa'.

Neelkantha took award for the best screenplay writer for Telugu film 'Show', while the special jury award was given to Janaki Vishwanathan for Tamil film 'Kutty'.

M J Raju got the best special effects award for Tamil film 'Aalavandaan'.

PTI