The Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 brings up the debate of whether only actors and directors are recognised more often, while other contributors like scriptwriters, editors, and technicians are sidelined. Should the award criteria be broadened?

In my opinion, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 exposes a long-standing imbalance. Cinema is not a one-man show. The obsession with actors and directors reduces the richness of film culture. Consider the editing of Satya or the background score of Lagaan. These elements defined the films just as much as the lead actors did. Yet, technicians are invisible in awards. This imbalance shapes public perception too—people think actors are the only creative geniuses, when in reality they are part of a giant team. So yes, the criteria should be broadened. It’s time to dismantle the star-centric bias.

I think the award is fine as it is. The Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 is meant to recognize figures who shaped public imagination, and actors or directors naturally fit that role better. Let’s be honest—would the average person connect with a name like an editor or a sound designer? Maybe not. But when they hear Mohanlal or Amitabh Bachchan, it creates a sense of national pride. Awards also serve a symbolic function, and giving them to household names helps preserve their prestige. So while I respect the contributions of technicians, I don’t think broadening the criteria will serve the purpose of this particular award.

Yes, absolutely. The Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 being given to Mohanlal again highlights the trend: actors and directors dominate the honour. While they are important, cinema is a collective art form. Without writers, editors, set designers, and sound engineers, even the greatest actor cannot shine. For example, someone like Salim–Javed (the writer duo) changed the face of Hindi cinema, yet only directors and actors from that era got the award. Similarly, legendary technicians like P.C. Sreeram (cinematographer) or Resul Pookutty (sound designer) have transformed Indian cinema, but they rarely get considered for lifetime achievement. If the government wants the Dada Saheb Phalke Award to reflect cinema as a whole, it should broaden the scope beyond the glamorous roles. Otherwise, it becomes too predictable and actor-centric.

I take a middle ground. The Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 shows again that actors dominate, but I don’t think the solution is to drastically change criteria. Instead, the government could institute a parallel award of equal status for non-acting contributors. That way, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award can maintain its current symbolic resonance, while another equally prestigious honour ensures recognition for editors, writers, or technical pioneers. This dual system would make Indian cinema history more inclusive without diluting the brand value of the award.