The Dada Saheb Phalke award for the year 2016 will be conferred to renowned filmmaker and actor Kasinadhuni Viswanath.
He will be the 48th recipient of the highest recognition in Indian cinema. The award consists of a golden lotus, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs and a shawl.
President Pranab Mukherjee will be conferring him the award at a function on 3 May at Vigyan Bhawan.
Union Minister M Venkiah Naidu on Monday approved the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke award committee to recognise 87-year-old filmmaker.
The veteran filmmaker said it proved that hard work eventually gets recognised.
‘It has proved that whatever we do with commitment and discipline — whether it is making a film or anything else — will have its worth,’ he told reporters in Hyderabad.
Viswanath thanked his parents and producers of his films for helping him in his creative endeavours. ‘I am really grateful to my producers because they never objected to any aspect of my work. They never wanted alternatives to what I was doing. They never said you are doing something that a layman would not understand,’ he said.
Kamal Haasan, who had acted in Viswanath’s Salangai Oli, heaped laurels on the director for being selected for Dadasaheb Phalke award.
He expressed his joy and tweeted, ‘My K Vishwanath gaaru is a Dadasaheb Phalke award winner. In his humility he would say I am lucky .Truth is Indians are lucky. So am, I Thank you with glistening eyes Vishwanath gaaru for Sagara Sangamam. Like Balu of SS I initiate more applause. Your fame is mine vice versa’.