The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is an annual award given by the Indian government for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. The award is named after Dadasaheb Phalke (Dhundiraj Govind Phalke). He is known as the father of Indian cinema. The award was instituted in the annual National Awards in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, to honour his invaluable contribution to Indian cinema.
