The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. Named after Dadasaheb Phalke, the pioneer of Indian film industry, the award is bestowed to honor distinguished contribution to the growth and promotion of the film medium. The government introduced the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in the annual National Awards in 1969, the birth centenary year of Phalke, to commemorate his invaluable contribution to Indian cinema. The first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was actress Devika Rani Roerich. Since then the award has been conferred on some of the biggest names of the Indian film industry.
Following is a list of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winners:
