title: 1996–97 Karnataka State Film Awards
text: # 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 |
  