Dada Saheb Phalke Award for Tapan Sinha

Tapan Sinha, the man who has given some beautifully-crafted films like Kabuliwalla, Khudito Pashan, Sagina Mahato and Ek Doctor Ki Maut, is the Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner for the year 2006.

A committee comprising Shyam Benegal , Gautam Ghosh, A Nageshwar Rao, Sharmila Tagore and Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia recommended Sinha’s name for the top cinematic honour of the country to the Government. The award comes at a time when Sinha has been bedridden for quite some time due to old-age ailments.

The government announced that Sinha will receive a cash price of Rs ten lakh (one million), a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) and a shawl. The award will be given away at the function, likely to be latter this month, in which the National Awards for 2006 (announced earlier) will be given to the winners.

Another highly-deserving stalwart from Bengal, Saumitra Chatterjee, was also in the running for the honour …


(more…)