And the winner is...

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And the winner is...

Saturday, 10 August 2019 | PTI

And the winner is...

At the 66th National Film awards, mainstream Hindi cinema was the star

Bollywood no more confines itself to entertainment and masala films but rather more arthouse and realistic cinema. And the films that have won 66th National Film Awards makes it quite evident. Andhadhun, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Badhaai Ho, and Gujarati film Hellaro bagged the best film honour. Directed by Abhishek Shah, the film is set in Gujarat’s Kutch region and explores the theme of women empowerment. The film also bagged the special jury award shared by its 13 leading ladies.

Of the top three national awards, Uri: The Surgical Strike won Aditya Dhar a best director award for his debut film and Vicky Kaushal the best actor, a laurel he shared with Ayushmann Khuranna for his role in Andhadhun.

Keerthy Suresh won the best actress award for her role as yesteryear Telugu star Savitri in biopic Mahanati. The film was also recognised for its costumes.

Ayushmann and Vicky, who shared the best actor award, are known for their unconventional choices. Ayushmann plays a seemingly blind pianist in Andhadhun, a critically acclaimed thriller, while Vicky portrays an Army officer in Uri, which recaps India’s surgical strike in September 2016 in the wake of a terror attack on an army base in Uri. Dhar dedicated his best director to “each and every brave soldier” in the country. The film also won the best music director award (background music) for Shashwat Sachdev and sound design.

Acknowledging his best actor award, Ayushmann said, “I have always tried to back disruptive content that stands out for its quality content. Today’s honour is a validation of my hard work, belief system, my journey in films and my reason to be an actor in the first place.” Andhadhun also won awards for the best Hindi film and best adapted screenplay.

Vicky admitted that he was too excited to describe how he felt. “Words might fall short to describe the happiness I am feeling right now. For my work to be recognised by the honourable jury is truly a moving moment for me and my family,” he said.

Director Sriram Raghavan, who is currently in Melbourne for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), said he was happy to see his film get recognised by the National Film Award jury.

“I was actually in the middle of a screening (of Andhadhun) in Melbourne. It is just great and I can thank enough. Tabu is also here, she called me and said, ‘We got it’. I’m just chuffed right now,” Raghavan said. Ayushmann also expressed happiness over the wins registered by Badhaai Ho, a film about a family dealing with an unexpected pregnancy, which was adjudged the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment. Veteran actor, Surekha Sikri was named the best supporting actress for her role of a cantankerous but lovable matriarch.

Akshay Kumar-starrer Padman was named best film on social issues. Padmaavat, which faced many hurdles during its release, walked away with best choreography for Ghoomer and the best music director award (songs) for filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Arijit Singh was named best male playback singer for Binte Dil from the film.

Bhansali said that it was a big moment for him, as music has always been a huge part of his creative endeavours and something that kept him sane during the many controversies that Padmaavat faced.

“Any recognition, especially coming from the government, means a lot. It is a pat on my back. I made Padmaavat through a lot of chaos and trouble. Every time we went through any stress, I used to go to the studio and make a song. I make my music with so much love,” Bhansali said.

The best female playback singer award went to Bindhu Malini for Maayavi Manave from Nathicharami, which also bagged the award for best lyrics, best editing and best Kannada film.

Singer-lyricist Swanand Kirkire won the best supporting actor award for Marathi film Chumbak, which he said was an unexpected surprise.

“I am on top of the world. I could not have imagined getting the best actor award, it’s incredible and absolutely humbling,” Kirkire said.

Rima Das, whose last feature Village Rockstars was the best film of 2017, registered yet another win with her follow up  Bulbul Can Sing bagging the best Assamese film honour.

Kashmir-set drama Hamid was named the best Urdu film while its child actor Talha Arshad Reshi shared the best child actor award with three other children.

Telugu film Chi Arjun La Sow won the best original screenplay award for its take on arranged marriages. Kannada film KGF won best action direction and shared the special effects recognition with Telugu film Awe, which also bagged the award for make up.

Marathi film Paani, backed by Priyanka Chopra’s production banner, won the award for best film on environment conservation and preservation. Kannada film Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shale Kasargodu was declared the best children’s film. The best cinematography award went to Malayalam movie Olu.

In language categories, the winners were Reva (Gujarati), Harjeeta (Punjabi), Amori (Konkani), “Mahanati” (Telugu), Sudani from Nigeria (Malayalam), Ek Je Chhilo Raja (Bengali) Baaram (Tamil), Bhonga (Marathi), Ma’ama (Garo), Mishing (Sherdukpan), In the Land of Poison Women (Pangchenpa) and Turtle (Rajasthani).

Special mention was shared among Nathicharami actor Sruthi Hariharan, Kadak star Chandrachoor Rai, Joseph star Joju George and Sudani from Nigeria actor Savithri.

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