What are the Silver Lotus awards in Indian cinema?

The Silver Lotus awards are the national film awards presented in two main categories: feature films and non-feature films. These were established in 1954. Two separate 10-member jury panels select the winners for each, and these juries are appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals in India. Neither the government nor the directorate have influence over which films are selected for consideration and which films ultimately win awards. There are strict criteria as to whether a film is eligible for consideration by the jury panels. Over 100 films made across the country are entered in each category for the awards and deemed eligible each year. These are the country’s oldest award alongside the Filmfare awards. Every year, a national panel appointed by the government selects the winning entry. The award ceremony is held in New Delhi, where the President gives away the awards. This is followed by the inauguration of the national film festival, where the award-winning films are screened for the public.