New Delhi: Veteran actor Pran Sikand today received the highest honour in cinema, the Dadasabhe Phalke Award, from Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari.
As the actor, now 93, has been forbidden to travel by his doctors, he was presented the award at his residence in Mumbai.
This is probably the first time that a Dadasaheb Phalke awardee has been presented this award at his residence, since the awards were instituted in 1971. The then President had come down the stage to present the same award to showman Raj Kapoor in 1988 when he had a sudden asthmatic attack.
The citation reads: ‘This highest award in cinema given by the Government of India is conferred upon Shri Pran for his outstanding contribution to Indian Cinema. His impressive performances have bestowed an entirely unique new dimension to the negative and character roles in Hindi cinema. His contribution to mainstream Hindi cinema is well recognized ensuring him the place of one of the most illustrious and celebrated actors of Indian film industry. During his career, he has given sterling performances in over 350 films and in each one of them, he brought new mannerism and style, holding the audience spell bound by his acting. This citation is in recognition of Shri Pran’s inspiring journey in the Indian cinema spanning over several decades.’
The award comprises a Swarn Kamal, citation, shawl and a cash prize of Rs 1 million.
Addressing reporters after presenting the thespian with the prestigious award Tiwari said, “When an actor of Pran’s caliber is awarded with the Dadasaheb Phalke, the nobility and the significance of the award only multiplies manifold.”
The Minister was accompanied by I & B Secretary Uday Kumar Varma and senior officials of the Ministry.
Pran Sikand is the 44th recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, that was instituted in 1969, the birth centenary year Dadasaheb Phalke, considered the Father of Indian Cinema.
Born as Pran Kishen Sikand, the legendary actor has worked in over 350 films in a career spanning over six decades. He made his debut as an antagonist in Dalsukh Pancholi`s Punjabi film ‘Yamla Jat’ (1945) and went on to essay a number of iconic characters in Hindi Cinema after that.
Pran became a symbol of villainy after his portrayals of a bad guy in a series of films including hits like ‘Madhumati’, ‘Ziddi’ and ‘Ram Aur Shyam’.
He was equally good when he stepped into character roles and won many hearts as loveable Malang Chacha in ‘Upkar’ and in ‘Sharaabi’ and ‘Parichay’, thoroughly entertained in ‘Victoria No. 203’ and ‘Karz’, and epitomised on-screen friendship in the role of a rough but kind Pathan in ‘Zanjeer’.
He also acted in super-hit films like ‘Milan’, ‘Half Ticket’, ‘Barsaat Ki Ek Raat’ ,’Devdas’, ‘Madhumati’, ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’, Upkar’, ‘Brahmchari, Johny Mera Naam’, ‘Purab Aur Paschim’ and many more.
