The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting announced on Monday that the veteran filmmaker and actor Kasinadhuni Viswanath is the winner of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2016. The Award is conferred by the Union government for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema.
The Award consists of a Swarn Kamal (Golden Lotus), a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl. The Award shall be conferred by the President of India at a function on May 3 at Vigyan Bhawan. A presenter of classical and traditional art, music, and dance, K Viswanath had been a guiding force in the Indian film industry.
As a director, he has made fifty films since 1965 known for their strong content, endearing narrative, honest handling and cultural authenticity. His films on a wide range of social & human issues had great appeal to the masses.
Viswanath was born in February 1930 at Gudivada in Andhra Pradesh. An ardent art lover, he made a series of films based on varied themes of art, music and dance. His films empathized with courage and frailty, aspirations and convictions, perseverance and distractions, social demands and individual struggle and at the core believed in the goodness of the human spirit.
His contributions have received recognition in the form of Padmashri Award in 1992 by the Government of India for his contribution to film making. He has also been awarded 5 National Awards, 20 Nandi Awards (awarded by the Government of Andhra Pradesh), 10 Filmfare Awards including Lifetime Achievement Awarads.
