Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Bengali director Tapan Sinha

New Delhi, July 21 : Veteran Bengali film director Tapan Sinha will receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2006.

Sinha, 84, who has won 19 national film awards in various categories apart from winning laurels in various international film festivals, would be given a Swarna Kamal, cash prize of Rs.10 lakh and a shawl by the President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil at a function whose date is yet to be announced.

Sinha, has directed well known films like Kabuliwala , Khudito Pashaan , Atithi, Upahar , Haatey Bazarey , Sagina Mahato , Hansuli Baker Upakatha , Adalat O Ekti Meye , Ek Doctor Ki Maut , Bancharamer Bagan and Shatabdir Kanya , among others.

Sinha's cinematic works are mostly down to earth depiction of the struggles of the common man and his reputation as an uncompromising filmmaker puts him in a class of his own.

Government had recently conferred on him the "One Time Award for Life Time Achievement" award while commemorating the 60th anniversary of India's Independence.

The award committee that recommended Sinha's name consisted of Shyam Benegal, Gautam Ghosh, Sharmila Tagore and renowned flute player Hari Prasad Chaurasia, among others.

ANI