Who was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and in which year was it instituted?
- Satyajit Ray — 1970
- Devika Rani — 1969
- Lata Mangeshkar — 1969
- Prithviraj Kapoor — 1969
Answer: Devika Rani — 1969 (the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke)
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was instituted in 1969 to mark the birth centenary of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (born 30 April 1870). The first award was given to Devika Rani at the 17th National Film Awards. She was a pioneering actress and producer known as the first lady of Indian cinema who helped build Bombay Talkies in the 1930s.