The award was instituted in 1990, at 38th National Film Awards and awarded annually for short films produced in the year across the country, in all Indian languages. Since the 70th National Film Awards (2022), the primary/main cinematographer is eligible to the award, thus eliminating the existing Cameraman and Laboratory Processing sub-categories.[1]
Winners
Award includes 'Rajat Kamal' (Silver Lotus) and cash prize. Following are the award winners over the years:
Indicates a joint award for that year
List of award recipients, showing the year (award ceremony), film(s), language(s) and citation
For the arduous and patient coverage of the flora and fauna of the Silent Valley in Kerala over a period of one-and-a-half years and for giving an intimate portrait of the environment, recorded under difficult conditions.
For sound design which evokes a vision of a world far, far away from the madding crowd, which oscillates between the silences and nature's pristine sounds.
For her arresting use of lenses and lighting in the creation of a strange and magical world, full of a certain atmospheric dampness and mistiness, further enhanced by a consistent exhibition of striking cinematic compositions.
For providing with amazing discipline and sensitivity, an intimate insight into the lives of a small family, living in a confined space, with exquisite use of composition, rhythm, lensing and lighting.
For using highly sophisticated texture and tonal work, with deep anticipation into the flow and narrative of the film, the cinematography strives to redefine ways of image making and experience.
For imaginative yet minimal, a balanced and evocative cinematography creates a character out of a city night atmosphere, setting the space and mood for the living characters in their journey beyond the real, nearing mythical.
For photographing with stunning images tigers and other wildlife animals in their natural habitat and giving us visuals which are both unique and poetic.
For simple, stark and sometimes breathtaking cinematography under the most difficult weather conditions, where some images linger on long after the film is over.
For exhibiting a wide spectrum of hues, both colour and black and white, while picturising the action in a dark warehouse full of unlikely light sources as also for the simulation of a silent era film with amusing trick photography.
For its consistent, relentless and splendid work in formidable circumstances, of visually capturing the life cycle and habitat of an endangered amphibian.