1996–97 Karnataka State Film Awards
# 1996–97 Karnataka State Film Awards

The Karnataka State Film Awards 1996–97, presented by Government of Karnataka, to felicitate the best of Kannada Cinema released in the year 1996.

## Lifetime achievement award

| Name of Award | Awardee(s) | Awarded As |
| - | - | - |
| • Dr. Rajkumar Award • Puttanna Kanagal Award | • M. N. Basavarajaiah • S. V. Rajendra Singh Babu | • Studio Owner • Director |

## Jury

A committee headed by G. V. Iyer was appointed to evaluate the awards.

## Film Awards

| Name of Award | Film | Producer | Director |
| - | - | - | - |
| First Best Film | America America | G. Nandakumar | Nagathihalli Chandrashekar |
| Second Best Film | Nagamandala | Srihari L. Khoday | T. S. Nagabharana |
| Third Best Film | Nagareeka | Saraswathi Gopal Jois | Y. Nanjundappa |
| Best Film Of Social Concern | Karadipura | Rajalakshmi Ramachandrappa | Baraguru Ramachandrappa |
| Best Children Film | Vyuha | | |
| Best Regional Film | Bogsane (Konkani language) | | |

## Other Awards

| Name of Award | Film | Awardee(s) |
| - | - | - |
| Best Direction | America America | Nagathihalli Chandrashekar |
| Best Actor | America America | Ramesh Aravind |
| Best Actress | Janumada Jodi | Shilpa |
| Best Supporting Actor | Nagamandala | Mandya Ramesh |
| Best Supporting Actress | Nagamandala | B. Jayashree |
| Best Child Actor | Nammoora Mandara Hoove | Vinayak Joshi |
| Best Music Direction | Janumada Jodi | V. Manohar |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Janumada Jodi ("Kolumande Jangama Devaru") | L. N. Shastry |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Nammoora Mandara Hoove (All Songs) | K. S. Chitra |
| Best Cinematography | Nagamandala | G. S. Bhaskar |
| Best Editing | Amrutha Varshini | B. S. Kemparaju |
| Best Lyrics | Janumada Jodi ("Kolumande Jangama Devaru") | Doddarange Gowda |
| Best Sound Recording | Amrutha Varshini | Mahendar |
| Best Art Direction | Nagamandala | Shashidhar Adapa |
| Best Story Writer | America America | Nagathihalli Chandrashekar |
| Best Screenplay | Amrutha Varshini | Dinesh Baboo |
| Best Dialogue Writer | Janumada Jodi | Baraguru Ramachandrappa |
| Jury's Special Award | Janumada Jodi (For Film) | Producer: Parvathamma Rajkumar Director: T. S. Nagabharana |
