President honours talent at Bollywood-heavy National Awards 2016

President Pranab Mukherjee today presented the 63^rd National Awards, including best actor trophy to Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, best actress to Kangana Ranaut and Dadasaheb Phalke award to Hindi film veteran Manoj Kumar.

78-year-old Kumar, best known for his patriotic films “Purab Aur Paschim”, “Upkar” and “Kranti”, became the 47^th recipient of the award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, which consists of a golden lotus, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl.

The wheelchair-bound actor, who was sporting an orange bandana of Sai Baba, also presented the President with a crystal statue of the deity as he received the honour.

Bachchan, accompanied by son Abhishek, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, wife Jaya and daughter Shweta Nanda to the ceremony, won the award for his delightful performance as a hypochondriac father in Shoojit Sircar’s family drama “Piku”.

He received the Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000. This is the 73-year-old actor’s fourth National award. He previously won in 1990 (“Agneepath”), 2005 (“Black”) and 2009 (“Paa”).

Ranaut, 29, currently engaged in a bitter legal fued with actor Hrithik Roshan, won the award for her double role in Anand L Rai’s romantic comedy drama “Tanu Weds Manu Returns” of a troublesome wife Tanu and Haryanvi sportsperson Datto.

She also received Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000. It is her third trophy at the National Awards, having earlier won best supporting actress for “Fashion” and best actress for “Queen” last year.

SS Rajamouli and producers Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni received Swarna Kamal, cash prize and a certificate for their magnum opus “Baahubali”, which was the best feature film this year.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical romance “Bajirao Mastani”, starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, earned him the best director honour besides the film bagging five more awards.

“It is so special. It is the acknowledgment of the government. You are being compared with the best of the nation. And there is a great jury comrpsing of talented people. It means a lot. It is a very proud moment for me. It is a reward for the twenty years of my hard work,” Bhansali told PTI.

The award comprises a Swarna Kamal medallion, a cash prize of Rs 2,50,000 and a certificate.

Superstar Salman Khan-starrer cross-border drama “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” won the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment.

“The film is very special to me. The kind of love that the film has got has made the journey so special. And on top of that to get a National Award is amazing. It makes it all more sweeter,” director Kabir Khan said.

Complimenting the winners that include newcomers as well as legends of Indian cinema, Mukherjee said the awards this year reflect all aspects of cinema including digitisation and technology.

Jaitley said it was a privilege to see the best of Indian cinema this year. He said people sometimes talk of golden age of cinema and going by the continuous improvement in quality of films, it seems the best is yet to come.

I&B Secretary Ajay Mittal, who also spoke on the occasion, said the government was committed to nurture and promote films as both art and industry in the nation.

A total of 21 awards were given away by the President in the Non-Feature film category while the number of awards in Feature Film category was 51. Three awards were given to Best Writing on Cinema.

Sharat Katariya’s debut “Dum Laga Ke Haisha”, a ‘90s set drama in Haridwar about the romance between a mismatched couple, won the best Hindi film.

Best adapted screenplay honour went to Vishal Bhardwaj for real-life inspired crime drama “Talvar”, while the best original screenplay and dialouge was shared between Juhi Chaturvedi (‘Piku’) and Himanshu Sharma (‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’).

“Masaan”, Neeraj Ghaywan’s soulful Varanasi-set drama, won him the best debut director honour.

Actress Kalki Koechlin’s stint as a girl affected with cerebral palsy in Shonali Bose’s “Margarita with a Straw” got a special jury mention. She was accompanied by her mother.

“It is very special that I have received the National award for a film like ‘Margarita With a Straw’. It is very encouraging,” she said.

“Bajirao Mastani” earned Tanvi Azmi the best supporting actress honour for her portrayal of a shrewd mother in the film. The actress was cheered on by sister-in-law Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar.

Remo D’Souza got his first National Award for choreographing two chart topping numbers “Pinga” and “Deewani Mastani”.

“It is the most prestigious award for an artiste. After this award you get respect. It is always better to win such an award,” Remo said.

The period drama also won majorly in technical categories like cinematography, production design, re-recordist and sound design, thereby becoming the biggest gainer at the ceremony with six trophies.

Tamil star Samuthirakani bagged the best supporting actor award for his role in thriller, “Visaranai”, based on M Chandrakumar’s novel “Lock Up”. The movie also won the best Tamil film and best editing awards.

Mahesh Kale took home the best playback singer (male) award for crooning in Marathi film “Katyar Kaljat Ghusali”. Kale gave a rendition of the song at the ceremony followed by Monali Thakur, who won the best female singer for “moh moh ke dhaage” from “Dum Laga Ke Haisha”. The song also won Varun Grover the best lyricist award.

“Baahubali”, which won best feature film honour, also scored the best special effects award for CGI-laden screenplay. “Nanak Shah Fakir”, based on the life and teachings of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev, won the Nargis Dutt Award for best feature film on national integration, besides best costume design and make-up.

“Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal”, a dramatically disturbing exposition of the ill effects of pesticides in North Kerala, bagged the best film on environmental conservation/preservation.

Story of a child prodigy “Duronto” won best children’s film, while actor Gaurav Menon took home the best child artist award for his performance in “Ben”.

“Nirnayakam” was named the best film on social issues. Meghna Gulzar’s “Talvar” also bagged the best location sound recordist honour. The best song award went to “Kaathirun Nu Kaathirunnu” from “Ennu Ninte Moideen”, while ace composer Ilaiyaraaja won the best background score honour for “Thaarai Thappattai”.

Bhaskar Hazarika’s “Kothanodi” won the best Assamese film award, while veteran filmmaker Gautam Ghose’s evocative story “Shankhachil” took home the trophy for the best Bengali movie.

“Thithi” bagged the best Kannada film award, “Enemy” won the best Konkani film honour and “Pathemari” was named the best Malayalam film.

Survival drama “Ringan” won best Marathi film award and “Pahada Ra Luha” won the best Odiya film trophy. For effectively capturing the sense of fear during insurgency in Punjab, “Chauthi Koot” took home the best Punjabi film honour.

“Kanche” won the best Telugu film award, while “Priyamanasam” bagged the best Sanskrit film award. “Mithila Makhaan” was named the best Maithili film, while the best Manipuri film trophy went to “Eibusu Yaohanbiyu” and “Dau Huduni Methai” won the best Bodo film award.

“Satrangi”, a film on women empowerment, won the best Haryanvi film award. “The Head Hunter” was named the best Wancho film. Best Khasi and Mizo film awards went to “Onnatah” and “Kima’s Lode Beyond the Class” respectively.

In the non-feature film categories, best film went to “Amdavad Maa Famous”, while the best debut film of a director went to Nishantroy Bombarde’s “Daaravtha”.

Ranajit Ray’s “Aoleang” was named best anthropological/ethnographic film.

Documentary on Kannada filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli “Life in Metaphors: A portrait of Girish Kasaravalli” by director OP Shrivastava, was named best biographical/historical reconstruction.

Best Arts/Cultural film honour was shared by “A Far Afternoon - A painted Saga” and “Yazhpanam Thedchanamoorthy - Music beyond boundaries”.

“Weaves of Maheshwar” won best promotional film. Best environmental film including agriculture went to “The Man who dwarfed the mountains” and “God on the Edge”.

“Autodriver” was named best film on social issues while best educational film honour went to “Paywat”. Best exploration/adventure film went to “Dribbling with their future”.

Best Investigative film honour went to “Tezpur 1962” while best animation film went “Fisherwoman and Tuktuk”.

Special jury award was given to “In Search of Fading Canvas”, Best short fiction film to “Aushadh”, film on family values “Best Friends Forever”, best direction “Kamuki”, best cinematography “Benaras: The Unexplored Attatchments”, best audiography “Edpakana” and best editing “Breaking Free”.

“A Painted Saga” won its second award in best music category. Best narration/voiceover was shared by Mala Laj Watat Nahai and “Arangile Nithya Vismayam Guru Chemancherry Kunhiraman Nair”. “The Chameleon”, “Amma” and “Syaahi” shared the special mention award.

In the best writing on cinema, the best book on cinema went to Doddahulluru Rukkoji for his book “Dr Rajkumar Samagra Charithre”. While, Satish Chopra received a special mention for his book “Forgotten Masters of Hindi Cinema”. The best film critic award went to Meghachandra Kongbam.