New Delhi, Tuesday 02 Sept 2008: President Pratibha Patil will give away the 54th national film awards here this evening.

Eminent Film Director Tapan Sinha will receive the Dada Saheb Phalke award for the year 2006. The Government of India for outstanding contribution in the field of Indian cinema gives the award.

The award carries a cash price of Rs. ten lakhs, a swaran kamal and a shawl. Tappan’s work has won 19 national film awards in various categories apart from laurels in international film festivals.

One-time lifetime achievement awards will be presented to Thespian Dilip Kumar, Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar and veteran actress Saroja Devi. Each of the awards carries cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs, a citation and a shawl.

Awards will be presented in 31 different categories in the feature film section and 22 categories in the non-feature film section.

Three awards will be given for the best writing on cinema. Some the major awards to be presented are the best feature film award for the year 2006 will be given to the Malayalam film “Pulijanmam’’. The award carries a swarna kamal and Rs 2,50,000 each for the producer and the director of the film.

Swarna kamal and cash prize of Rs 2,00,000 each for the producer and the director for best popular film providing wholesale entertainment will be given to Hindi film “Lage Raho Munna Bhai”.

Nargis Dutt award for the best feature film on national Integration will be presented for Kannada film “Kallarli Huvagi”. The Award carries rajat kamal and cash prize of Rs 1,50,000 each for producer and director of the film.