Regional films eclipse Bollywood at 65th National Film Awards
new delhi — Lakshwadweep to Ladakh — the 65th National Film Award winners’ list encompassed cinematic gems from the length and breadth of India, with an Assamese film Village Rockstars walking away with the Best Feature Film title after nearly three decades.
The coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award — the country’s highest cinema honour — was reserved for late actor Vinod Khanna, known for films like Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, The Burning Train and Amar, Akbar, Anthony.
Even the late Sridevi was given a posthumous Best Actress honour for her intense role as a mother in her last released film Mom.
“Sridevi was not given the honour because of my relationship with her, but because of her contribution in Mom, jury chairperson Shekhar Kapur, who worked with her in
Mr. India, told the media. The winners’ list has a good mix of Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali and Assamese films.
“Who knows where is Jasari spoken? Has anyone heard of Tulu?” Kapur said as he announced the winners on Friday. “This is national integration,” he stressed.
Movies in the languages other than those specified in the VIII Schedule of the Constitution in the feature film categories were also awarded, the jury pointed out. The award for the Best Jasari Film was given to Sinjar, Best Tulu Film to Paddayi and the Best Ladakhi Film to Walking With The
Wind, which won two other honours.
Only Newton emerged as the big winner out of Hindi cinema as it bagged the Best Hindi Film award and a Special Mention for actor Pankaj Tripathi.
While Pankaj was emotional about winning an award in a race he never knew he was in, Newton director Amit V Masurkar hoped the award and the film’s commercial success creates a bigger space for relevant political cinema.
Divya Dutta bagged the Best Supporting Actress for Irada, which was named Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation.
Divya said it is such achievements that make an actor feel alive again.
Ganesh Acharya scored the Best Choreography Award for
Gori tu latth maar from Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. Oscar winning composer A.R. Rahman won two honours — music direction award for Tamil film Kaatru Veliyidai and acing background music for Mom.
“Regional cinema is giving Hindi cinema a run for its money,” Kapur, who led a 10-member jury for this year’s National Film Awards, said.
“The standard of performances in some of the regional films is completely stunning. Hindi films cannot compete with them, not in the state they are... And I know why... Our Hindi films try too hard to become everything. These are rooted and that’s why they are able to make it,” Kapur added.
Rima Das’ Village Rockstars, about the spirit of poor but funloving children, also won the Best Editing honour for the filmmaker. The movie, apart from being named Best Feature Film, got Best Child Artist honour for Bhanita Das and Best Location Sound Recordist Award for Mallika Das.
Utpal Borpujari, whose debut feature film Ishu won the Best Assamese Film award, said Village Rockstars has given the Assamese film community a reason to rejoice. S.S. Rajamouli’s magnum opus
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, apart from bagging the Best Special Effects honour.