Cine Stars shine at National Film Awards

 

 

 

 

PRESIDENT Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday presented screen icon Waheeda Rehman the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award and honoured other winners of the 69th National Film Awards, including popular stars Allu Arjun, Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon. The National Film Awards were announced in August honouring the best in cinema for the year 2021. At the ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan here, Murmu said cinema is not just an industry limited to business and entertainment. “Films are the most effective medium to spread awareness and sensitivity. Meaningful films depict the achievements as well as the problems of the society and the country,” the President said in her speech. The President congratulated Rehman for receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, adding the actor had reached the pinnacle of the film industry with her talent and personality. Rehman, 85, dedicated the award to her “dear film industry” and its various departments. “I feel very honoured and humbled... But whatever I have achieved today, it is because of my dear film industry. Luckily, I got to work with top directors, producers, filmmakers, technicians, writers, dialogue writers, music directors and musicians,” Rehman said in her acceptance speech. “I got a lot of support, respect and love from them,” she said, also crediting the make-up artists, hair and costume designers. “...Which is why I am sharing this award with all the departments of the film industry... A film is not made by just one person, we need each other,” the actor, who received a standing ovation, further said.

 

 

While Arjun won the best actor award for the Telugu film “Pushpa: The Rise”, the best actress honour was shared by Alia and Kriti for Hindi films “Gangubai Kathaiwadi” and “Mimi”, respectively. This is the first National Award for all three actors. The auditorium erupted with cheers as a clip of “Pushpa: The Rise” played when Allu Arjun walked up to the stage. But the loudest cheers were reserved for the winners of “RRR” and “Pushpa: The Rise” in different categories. Allu Arjun was spotted clicking pictures of other awardees from the Telugu industry. Actor-filmmaker R Madhavan received the National Award for best feature film for his directorial debut “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect”, based on the life of Nambi Narayanan, a former aerospace engineer of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who won the best supporting actor for “Mimi”, said this win is “special” because it’s an honour from the country. ‘Shershaah’ director Vishnu Vardhan won the special jury award for the biopic on Kargil war hero Vikram Batra. Also present was the film’s producer Karan Johar. Shreya Ghoshal won the best female playback award for her song “Mayava Chaayavaa’ for the film “Iravin Ninzhal”. “RRR” won five awards, including best male playback singer for Kalabhairava for the song “Komuram Bheemudo”.

 

“RRR” music director MM Keeravaani shared the best music direction award with “Pushpa: The Rise Part” music composer Devi Sri Prasad. The SS Rajamouli-directed film also bagged awards for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment, best special effects, best action director and best choreography. Gujarati film “Gandhi & Co” was named the best children film. Bhavin Rabari won the best child actor award for Pan Nalin’s “Chhello Show”, which also won the best Gujarati film award. Shoojit Sircar’s “Sardar Udham”, fronted by Vicky Kaushal, won five awards in best feature film in Hindi, cinematography, best audiography, production design, and costume design. “The Kashmir Files”, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, won the Nargis Dutt Award for best film on national integration. Its actor Pallavi Joshi won her second National Film Award in the best supporting actor category. The National Film Award for best director went to Nikhil Mahajan for Marathi film “Godavari”.