Some exult, some dismayed with 64th National Film Awards

It is that time of the year again when some celebrate and some carp. The 64th National Film Awards kept date with its annual trend of exultation, reactions of joy and some shock at some omissions.

It was a double dhamaka celebration on the sets of PadMan - a biopic on Arunachalam Muruganantham who handmade the first low-cost sanitary napkins in the country. Both the national awardees Akshay Kumar, who won Best Actor (for Rustom) and Sonam Kapoor who got a special mention by the jury (for Neerja) are shooting together on Akshay Kumar's wife Twinkle Khanna's maiden production venture being helmed by R Balki. Both of them took to social media to react with photographs looking shocked and suprised.

Khiladi Kumar tweeted: “#NationalFilmAwards : Best Actor for #Rustom…countless emotions, very hard to express my gratitude right now but still tried, a big THANK YOU.”
Expressing gratitude to the national awards jury, the filmmakers, his family and his fans he told media persons who had gathered at the set: “It was so unexpected that my first reaction was cautious. I wanted to ensure that I'm not being pranked in a late April Fool joke.” 

Characteristically modest, Kumar thanked the Almighty for His grace. “This is actually the blessings of all my well wishers,” he said and underlined: “I haven't called people, not given any money and done undue favours to get the award.” What he said assumed significance considering his past criticism of “fixed film awards over which only a select few have monopoly for obvious reasons.”

Sonam said on Instagram: “Who would’ve thought!! Shocked and grateful!! All the way from maheshvar!!! #nationalawards #neerja #rustom @akshaykumar”
Model-actor Dino Morea said he was happy for Akshay. “He was superb in the film as the naval officer Rustom Pavri. Well deserved.” Others like actor and Joint Secretary, CINTAA Amit Behl said: “This is recognition for Akshay's honest performance in a difficult film. Congratulations!”
Actress Zarine Khan too congratulated Akshay Kumar calling it special honour. “He has always been one of the finest actors we have.” Actor Ranvir Shorey called the award for Akshay “another grand milestone in a tremendous career,” and added, “His growth as an actor is inspirational, and his choices of films are showing the industry the way. More power to him.”

A still from Ventilator

Over 500 km away at Priyanka Chopra's production house Purple Pebble Pictures too the mood was celebratory. After all her maiden Marathi film has won a whopping three national awards for best direction (Rajesh Mapuskar), best editing (Rameshwar) and best re-recordist (Alok De). Mapuskar, who has in the past helmed the critically acclaimed box office hit sports drama Ferrari Ki Sawari, was besieged by the media for reactions. Expressing happiness “Ventilator was my first Marathi film and we won three national awards. All thanks to my producers Priyanka Chopra and her mom Dr Madhu Chopra (producers) for believing in this film. Such support and encouragement for Marathi cinema is both rare and commendable. These awards will give a further boost to the Marathi film industry which is making rapid strides.”
Plans for a massive celebration with cast and crew are in the offing soon after Priyanka who is abroad returns.

A still from Kasaav

Co-director of the Marathi movie Kasaav Sunil Sukhtankar (with Sumitra Bhave) hoped the award will help in drawing attention to the issue of mental health in general and depression which is the theme of the film, in particular. “This reaffirms how in Marathi a well made film on a good theme still finds its place in the sun. I hope the award will help us get a good release. We will to celebrate then.”

Many have also expressed shock and surprise over the glaring omission of Aligarh and Dangal (for more categories). While Hansal Meta who directed Aligarh could not be reached for comment, the film's writer Apurva Asrani did not mince words. "I wish to thank the National Awards jury as much as I'd like to thank every awards jury that rejected Aligarh this year," he said adding, "for going out of their way to remind us that homosexuality is still taboo in this country, and we need to work harder to bring it into the mainstream." While insisting he was not surprised he said, "I see that the public has questioned the exclusion of Manoj Bajpayee and Aligarh, and there is an outpouring of love and support on social media. There is no bigger award for a filmmaker than his/her audience being so affected by the film, that they make it their own and fight for it."

A filmmaker who is otherwise quite forthright with his comments was guarded, “I have a big release coming up and I don't want it to be targeted out of vengeance. But discerning audiences will be appalled. Nobody is saying don't give awards to your favourites, but the way some really important films with a message have been left out is glaring.”

Renowned theatre personality Manjul Bharadwaj said: “We live in a time of euphoria not substance. The awards are a signal to hypernationalists to crank up their act.”  

REEL OF HONOUR: 

Best Feature: Kasaav (Marathi)
Best Direction: Rajesh Mapuskar for Ventilator(Marathi)
Best Actor: Akshay Kumar for Rustom (Hindi)
Best Actress: Surabhi C.M for Minnaminungu – the Firefly (Malayalam)
Best Supporting Actor: Manoj Joshi for Dashakriya (Marathi)
Best Supporting Actress: Zaira Wasim for Dangal (Hindi)
Best Child Artist: Adish Praveen for Kunju Daivam (Malayalam), Nur Islam and Samiul Alam for Sahaj Pather Gappo (Bengali), Manohara. K for Railway Children (Kannada)
Best Male Playback Singer: Sundharayyar for song Jasmie E from film Joker (Tamil)
Best Female Playback Singer: Iman Chakraborty for song Tumi Jaake Bhalo Basho from film Praktan (Bengali)
Best Cinematography: S. Thirunavukarasu for 24 (Tamil)

BEST SCREENPLAY
Screenplay writer (original): Syam Pushkaran for Maheshinte Prathikooram (Malayalam)
Screenplay Writer (Adapted): Sanjay Krishnaji Patil for Dashakriya (Marathi)
Dialogues: Tarun Bhascker for Peli Chuplu (Telugu)

BEST AUDIOGRAPHY
Sound Designer: Jayadevan Chakka Dath for Kaadu Pookkunna Neram (Malayalam)
Re-recordist of the final mixed track: Alok De for Ventilator (Marathi)
Best Editing: Rameshwar for Ventilator (Marathi)
Best Production Design: Subrata Chakraborthy, Shreyas Khedekar and Amit Ray for 24 (Tamil)
Best Costume Designer: Sachin Lovalekar for Cycle (Marathi)
Best Make-up Artist: NK Ramakrishna for Allama (Kannada)
Best Music Direction (Songs /Background Score): Bapu Padmanabha for Allama (Kannada)
Best Lyrics: Vairamuthu for song Entha Pakkam from film Dharma Durai (Tamil), Anupam Roy for Tumi Jaake Bhalo Basho from Praktan(Bengali)
Special Jury Award: Mohan Lal
Best Choreography: Raju Sundaram for Janatha Garrage(Telugu)
Best Special Effect: Naveen Paul for Shivaay (Hindi)
 

SPECIAL MENTION
Sonam Kapoor for Neerja (Hindi)
Adil Hussain for Mukti Bhawan (Hindi) and Maj Rati Keteki (Assamese) Producer Red Carper Moving Pictures and director Shubhashish
Bhutiani for Mukti Bhawan (Hindi) Producer Eleeanora Images Private Ltd and director Nila
Madhab Panda for Kadvi Hawa (Hindi)

Best Feature Film in each of the language specified in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution
Best Assamese Film: Maj Rati Keteki
Best Bengali Film: Bisorjon
Best Hindi Film: Neerja
Best Kannada Film: Reservation
Best Konkani Film: K Sera Sera –Ghodpachen Ghoddtelem
Best Malayalam Film: Maheshinte Prathikaaram
Best Marathi Film: Dashakriya
Best Telegu Film: Peli Chuplu
Best Gujarati Film: Wrong Side Raju
Best Tamil Film: Joker
 

Best Feature Film in each of the languages other than those specified in Schedule VIII of the Constitution
Best Moran Film: Haanduk
Best Tulu Film: Madipu

Non-Feature Films
Best Non Feature Film: Fireflies In The Abyss
Best Debut Film of a Director: Soz…A Ballad of Maladies by Tushar Madhav
Best Biographical/ Historical Reconstruction: Zikr Us
Parivashka: Begum Akhtar
Best Arts/Cultural Film: In The Shadow of Time and The Lord of The Universe
Best Environment Film including Agriculture: The Tiger Who Crossed The Line
Best Film on Social Issues: I Am Jeeja and Sanath
Best Educational Film: The Waterfall
Best Exploration/Adventure Film: Matitle Kusti
Best Investigative Film: Placebo
Best Animation Film: Hum Chitra Banate Hain
Special Jury Award: The Cinema Travellers
Best Short Fiction Film: Aaba
Best Film on Family Values: Little Magician
Best Direction: Aaba Aiktaay Naa?
Best Cinematography: Kalpvriksha” and Adnyat
Best Audiography: In Return Just A Book
Best Editing: Gudh
Best Music: Leeches
Best Narration/Voice Over: Makino
SPECIAL MENTION
Director Amitabh Parashar for The Eyes of Darkness
Director Ramen Borah and Sibanu Borah for Sikar Aru Sitkar
Director Soumya Sadanandan for Chembai-Descoperire A Mea Unei Legend

BEST WRITING ON CINEMA
Best Book on Cinema: Lata : Sur Gatha by Yatindra Mishra
Best Film Critic: G. Dhananjayan
Most Film Friendly State Award: State of Uttar Pradesh
Special Mention: State of Jharkhand