Bollywood blockbuster Paa dominated the 57th National Film Awards list which was announced on Wednesday evening in India.
While actor Amitabh Bachchan won the best actor for Paa for his role as a progeria-stricken child, actress Arundhathi Naag - who played his doting grandmother in the film - won the best supporting actress. This is Bachchan’s third National Award for Best Actor.
South Indian cinema too got its due: Malayalam sailor-saga Kutti Srank, featuring Mamooty, won the Best Film award. Incidentally, this film won rave reviews after its screening at DIFF last December.
The prestigious National Awards, which honours the best in Indian cinema, gave its nod to Aamir Khan blockbuster 3 Idiots in the Best Popular film providing wholesome entertainment.
Meanwhile, veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal won the award for the Best Film on Social Awareness for his drama Well Done Abba, making it his 8th National Award win. The film starring Minnisha Lamba and Boman Irani was showcased at the 2009 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). Bollywood actor Farooq Sheikh won the Best Supporting Actor for his role in Lahore.
Ace Bengali director Rituparno Ghosh bagged the National Award for best director award for his film Abohoman, while its leading lady Ananya Chatterjee won the best actress award.
Following the National Award announcement today, the twitterverse has been inundated with congratulatory messages for Amitabh Bachchan.
His son and actor Abhishek Bachchan was the first one to tweet: "'Paa' has won four national awards!!! So excuse me for a while... going off to do the monkey dance!!! Auro, auro, auro!!!"
Other actors including Shilpa Shetty, director Madhur Bhandarkar and Riteish Deshmukh were quick to follow suit with their congratulatory messages.
Amitabh had earlier won Best Actor National Awards for his films Agneepath and Black. The spotlight on Bollywood didn’t end with Paa.
Minnisha Lamba, the star of Well Done, Abba tweeted: “Abba, we won the NATIONAL AWARD... HUGS”
Boman Irani, who featured in the award-winning Well Done Abba: “Many messages coming for Well Done Abba and 3 Idiots. Indeed a privilege to be part of both films. Thanks all!
Madhur Bhandarkar, who won the national award for Fashion tweeted: “@SrBachchan congratulations sir!!! Well deserved”.
Riteish Deshmukh: “Congratulations sir @srbachchan”.
List of other winners:
Best Playback Singer (Female): Nilanjana Sarkar for Housefull
Best Playback Singer (Male) Rupam Islam for Mahanagar)
Best Background Score: Illayaraja
Best Malayalam Film: Pazzhassi Raja
Best Playback Singer (Female): Nilanjana Sarkar
Best Music: Amit Trivedi, Dev D
Best Film on social awareness: Well Done Abba
Best Lyrics Award: Swanand Kirkere for Behti Hawa Sa, (3 Idiots)
Nargis Dutt award for Best Film with Social Message: Delhi-6
