The award was instituted in 1990 at the 38th National Film Awards and awarded annually for short films produced in the year across the country, in all Indian languages.
Winners
Award includes 'Rajat Kamal' (Silver Lotus) and cash prize. Following are the award winners over the years:
List of award recipients, showing the year (award ceremony), film(s), language(s) and citation
For its intelligent and engaging use of cinematic form and structure as it weaves itself in and out of hotel rooms and people's lives on New Year's Eve at a sea-side hotel.
For documenting with apathy of the drought stricken villagers, by fluent and flowing editing style, keeping the interest on the subject, very engaging.
For a delicately interwoven edit of three sparsely connected contemporary urban tales of alienation. Developing a rhythm with parallel and simultaneous stories, the cutting sculpts an extremely powerful contemporary form.
For the abstract visualisation and endearing black &white tones are very effectively punctuated with fine editing, and in the process it maintains a very subtle and flowing rhythm and pace to carry forward the cinematic work.
For its faultless pace and seamless structure in drawing the viewer into the depth and gravity of the film’s focus, through varied space, location and time.