For the past three years, south Indian cinema has fared extremely well at the National Awards. This year was no exception. Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada films won around ten awards in various categories.
Shattering stereotypes with the unlikeliest of stories and taking inspiration from everyday life, these films set the bar high.
Kannada movie Nanu Avanalla Avalu, about a woman trapped in a man’s body, was one of those everyday life stories.
Kannada actor’s Vijay subtle and non-stereotypical portrayal was well appreciated for the gamut of emotions he displayed as his character struggled through confusion, rejection and humiliation to finally chart her own course with confidence and dignity. Vijay won the Best Actor award.
A little behind the line was Tamil actor Bobby Simha for his role of a feared mafia don in Jigarthanda. Simha’s versatility juggling between villainy and comic moments was praised by the jury.
Making history was ten-year-old Uthara Unnikrishnan with the Best Female Playback Singer award. She has been studying music since the age of five and made her cinematic debut with Tamil film Saivam. She lent her voice to the song Azhagey Azhagey for child actress Baby Sara. According to the citation, Uthara was chosen “for evoking an emotional resonance through the purity and innocence of her voice.”
Her father Unnikrishnan says, “I was at a concert when my son, Krishna [Uthara’s elder brother] called to inform me of the news. She is probably the youngest winner and it is overwhelming.”
He attributes the award to the team including director Vijay and music composer G.V. Prakash. “I was not there during the recording. G.V. guided her completely, he has a way with children.”
Uthara, a grade five student was in school and not available for comment.
The little singer who has sung for another Tamil film, Pisassu, is awaiting the release of two more Tamil films.
It’s a second win for Tamil lyricist Na Muthukumar who won the National Award last year for Tamil film Thangameenkal, for the song Ananda Yaazhi. His lyrics sung by Uthara describe the world as seen through the eyes of a little girl. Muthukumar’s 11-year career in the industry has seen him work in more than 35 films and on more than 100 songs.
Another two-time winner at the national level is Malayalam director Siddhartha Siva. Siva’s upcoming film Ain, scheduled for a May release, was picked as the Best Malayalam film. Siva won the Best Debut Film of a Director award in 2012 for his film 101 Chodiyangal. Ain is set in a Malabar Muslim household and is about Maanu, an irresponsible and easy-going man who becomes responsible due to socio-political issues, Siva said.
Lead actor Mustafa got a special mention for his nuanced portrayal of Maanu’s transformation.
Winning a National Award for a debut is no mean achievement and both director Bramma G and producer Christy Suluvuppan are elated. Their Tamil film, Kuttram Kadithal, has been doing the festival rounds in Goa, Mumbai, Pune and won the Best Tamil Film award.
Bramma says, “It is a story of four individuals from different walks of life who encounter an incident and how they behave when faced with a tough situation.”
Suluvappan, a resident of Qatar says, “Our dream of making a good cinema seems to have succeeded and we are all the more happy since the cast includes newcomers.”
Kaaka Muttai, produced by Dhanush’s Wunderban Films and Fox Star Studios, was chosen as Best Children’s Film, and the two protagonists, child actors Vignesh and Ramesh were picked as Best Child Actors. Vignesh and Ramesh play siblings living in a slum who are fascinated by the consumerist world after their family gets a TV.
Director Manikandan’s spark for the story came from an experience in his own life after he watched two children from the slum buying pizza after saving up money.
For the third consecutive year, a Malayalam film won Best Film on Environment Conservation. Joshy Mathew’s Black Forest won in 2012, Dr Biju’s Perariyathavar (for which comedian Suraj Venjaramoodu won the Best Actor award last year) bagged it in 2013. And for 2014, Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj’s Ottal is the winner.
This adaptation of Anton Chekov’s short story, Vanka, was also selected for Best Screenplay Writing. Ottal is UAE resident Joshy Mangalath’s film debut.
Nangaraju and Raju, make-up artists for Nanu Avanalla Avulu, won the Best Make-up Artistes award.
G. Dhananjayan’s tome Pride of Tamil Cinema, lists detailed information on 202 Tamil films that have either won national fame under different categories or were screened at the Indian Panorama of Indian Film Festival held since 1953. This is Dhananjayan’s second book, the earlier one being The Best of Tamil Cinema.
According to the jury’ citation, Pride of Tamil Cinema deserves careful consideration for the sheer expanse of the work. The book is a painstaking effort which will have a relevance many years down the line.”
That’s a lot to cheer about.
