National Film Award For Best Actor - List of Recipients

For an uncanny, truthful and subtle portrayal of a nondescript village character, carrying almost imperceptibly his slow inner transformation through normal tribulations of life into new awakening of consciousness, of feeling and of responsibility, for the artless unfolding of character which is evidence of acting ability of high aesthetic order.

For using mime, body language, laughter and silence to depict the central character in complete harmony with the overall style of the film.

For extremely virile and sensitive portrayal of a man who is constantly puzzled by the behavior of his wife, for conveying the flashes of anger and frustration he suffers and depicting ultimate acceptance of his wife's past with mellowed tenderness which reveals the virtuosity of a great artist.

For a very convincing portrayal of a harassed farmer courageously fighting vested interests who seek to block the implementation of land reforms.

For the versatility and naturalness with which he portrays the character of Seenu.

For his authentic portrayal of the inner conflicts of a conscientious police officer.

For a convincing and credible portrayal of a dedicated journalist caught in the cross-currents of political manoevring.

For an immensely moving and controlled portrayal of an individual's anguish, as he waits endlessly for justice.

For his outstanding and moving portrayal of a multi-faceted character with subtle moral nuances played with total control and extraordinary histrionic skill.

For excellence in restrained performance.

For successfully portraying the multifaceted roles.

For a towering performance, rising above the script with variation and nuances at all levels.

For his range as an actor as well as the restraint he applied in the portrayal of the much misunderstood musician.

For his innovative performance which effectively captures the agony of a freedom fighter immediately after Independence.

For his sensitive portrayal in the film Ponthan Mada of the role of an outsider and in Vidheyan for the depiction of the relationship of power and terror at an existential level.

For his impressive portrayal of a man who lives on his own terms. He is able to rekindle in the common man the deep, hidden resource of strength that lies dormant in each one of us.

For his extremely sensitive portrayal of Gandhi during his early years in south Africa with great restraint and control. The step by step transformation of a normal man to that of Mahatma is convincingly depicted.

For his double role in the film. His remarkable range in the entire diverse roles shows his excellent caliber as an actor.

For his realistic and sensitive portrayal of a middle-class man who stands up for this high principles.

For his control and presence in a role that demands a wide range of emotions.

For his restrained and moving performance of an angry man exasperated with the failing system.

For bringing to life a great national figure in a strong and memorable performance spanning several decades across three continents.

For his nuanced portrayal of the identity crisis experienced by a performing artiste who, in his personal life too, is torn between the denial of both, paternal identity and his own paternity rights.

For his role in the film. A veteran actor of great versatility, meets the varied demands of this role with credibility and assured technical skill.

For his brilliant portrayal of a character called Mestry, a committed political worker, caught in a web of shifting values-political and social.

For entering into the spirit of the legendary character and for living up to the challenge of history.

For his powerful performance in a difficult and demanding role.

For his sheer ease, subtlety and spontaneity in portraying a complex and demanding role.

For his dramatic rendition of reformed alcoholic who struggles to give a physically handicapped child a new life.

For etching the agonies and elations of an elderly person trying to keep peace with changing times.

For his sensible multilayered portrayal of a weaver caught in a web of silken threads, woven by destiny.

For his restrained yet powerful depiction of a complex character.

For a rare performance that fuses the art and craft of an actor to create a character that lives with you long after the film is over.

For the raw, nuanced portrayal of a cocky young man who learns lessons about life the hard way.

For a deep, restrained performance of a simple man with an unshakeable belief in his quest for salvation.

For his role as Kesha, the good hearted village simpleton, who inadvertently sets tumultuous events in motion, is circumspect and tenderhearted. Shorn of histrionics, his performance depends largely on his face and eyes to convey the multitudinous emotions in his mind which he cannot utter. He is controlled yet ingenuous, moving towards the beginnings of an understanding of the world around him, a move that transforms itself unselfconsciously into a spiritual quest.

A unique delineation of transformation of an international sportsperson to a dacoit. A difficult role very convincingly played.

A well-calibrated performance that was masked by remarkably subtle underplay.