'Dabangg' wins best popular film at 58th National Film Awards

Chulbul Pandey and his belt grabbing moves that went on to become the most popular last year has now got an official recognition. Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg has got a National Film Award for being the year's most popular film. Vishal Bharadwaj's Ishqiya's music too were rated among the best for the 58th National Film Awards that were announced on Thursday.

Dabangg got the Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film was seen as answering the need of cinegoers for entertainment rooted in Indian soil. However, it was Malyalam film Adaminte Makan Abu (Abu, son of Adam) which bagged the Best Film Award for the year 2010 indicated the awards trend shifting back from the popular to art-house cinema.

Known for playing comical roles Adaminte Makan Abu's actor Salim was impressive with his stunning serious role which established him as the best actor this year. Salim had a deep, restrained performance of a simple man with an unshakable belief in his quest for salvation. He shared the Best Actor award with Dhanush (Aadukalam), son-in-law of Rajinikanth, for his raw, nuanced portrayal of a cocky young man who learns lessons about life the hard way.

The best actress award too had two winners – Tamil actress Saranya Ponvannan (Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru) and Marathi heroine Mitalee Jagtap Varadkar (Baboo Band Baaja). Both women portrayeddd picture of two mothers whose concern for bettering the lives of their children in the face of untold hardship – Mitalee for her role as a mother who strives to realise through her son her dreams of a better future, and Saranya for performing as a fiercely combative single mother who shields her son to the point of sacrifice.

Three Marathi films were selected for awards in different categories. Marathi film Baboo Band Baaja bagged the Indira Gandhi Award for the best debut film of a director. Among other Marathi films, Champions was the best film on social issues, while Mee Sindhutai Sapkal got a special jury award for a powerful cinematic presentation of an epic journey of an abandoned woman who refused to become a victim and in the process not only transformed her own life but also the lives of many others.

The best music direction awards was shared between Vishal Bharadwaj (Ishqiya) and Issak Thomas Kottakapally (Adaminte Makan Abu). Ishqiya also won awards for best female playback singer (Rekha Bhardwaj) and for best audiography. Rishi Kapoor's Do Dooni Char was the best film in the Hindi language category.

The Feature Films jury was headed by J.P. Dutta, Non-Feature Films jury was headed by A.K. Bir and Best Writing on Cinema jury was headed by Ashok Vajpeyi. According to J.P. Dutta, 161 eligible entries were received in the feature film category, which was the highest received so far.

Feature film category

AnchorBest film: Adaminte Makan Abu (Malyalam)

Indira Gandhi Award for the best debut film of a director: Baboo Band Baaja (Marathi)

Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment: Dabangg (Hindi)

Nargis Dutt award for Best Film on National Integration: Moner Manush (Bengali)

Best film on social issues: Champions (Marathi)

Best film on environment conservation: Bettada Jeeva (Kannada)

AnchorBest Children's film: Hejjegalu (Kannada)

AnchorBest Direction: Aadukalam (Tamil)

Best Actors: Dhanush (Aadukalam) and Salim (Adaminte Makan Abu)

Best Actress: Saranya Ponvannan (Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru) and Mitalee Jagtap Varadkar (Baboo Band Baaja)

AnchorBest Supporting Actor: Mynaa (Tamil)

AnchorBest Supporting Actress: Namma Gramam (Tamil)

Best Child Artist: Harsh Mayar (I am Kalam), Shantanu Ranganekar and Machindra Gadkar (Champions) and Vivek Chabukswar (Baboo Band Baaja).

Best male playback singer: Suresh Wadkar (Mee Sindhutai Sapkal-Marathi)

Best female playback singer: Rekha Bharadwaj (Ishqiya).

AnchorBest Cinematography: Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)

AnchorBest screen play: Aadukalam (Tamil), Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)

AnchorBest audiography: Ishqiya (Hindi), Chitrasutram (Malayalam)

AnchorBest editing: Aadukalam (Tamil)

AnchorBest production design: Enthiran (Tamil)

AnchorBest music direction: Ishqiya (Hindi), Adaminte Makan Abu (Malayalam)

AnchorBest lyrics: Thenmerkku Paruvakkatru (Tamil)

AnchorBest choreography: Aadukalam (Tamil)

AnchorSpecial jury award: Mee Sindhutai Sapkal (Marathi)

Best costume designer: Namma Gramam (Tamil)

Best make-up artist: Moner Manush (Bengali)

Best Special effects: Enthiran (Tamil)