Sridevi named best actress by India’s National Film Awards

The late Sridevi was named Best Actress posthumously for her role as a vengeful mother in the Hindi film Mom. The actress was given the honour by the 65th National Film Awards of India.

In the movie directed by Ravi Udyawar, Sridevi played a mother who sets out to avenge her step-daughter, essayed by Pakistani actress Sajal Ali.

Sridevi died in February in a Dubai hotel. In an earlier interview, Sridevi had said she was proud to be a part of a film like Mom, and the reactions it elicited.

Meanwhile, Amit Masurkar’s Newton won the Best Hindi Film honour and actor Pankaj Tripathi, who was part of it, won a Special Mention for his performance at the awards.

Newton

Produced by Manish Mundra and starring Rajkummar Rao, the film revolves around a young government clerk, who is sent on election duty to a Maoist-controlled town. The film was shot in the interiors of Chhattisgarh.

Tripathi played Aatma Singh, a cynical Central Reserve Poilce Force officer, in the critically acclaimed film. It was selected as India’s official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category for Oscars 2018, but didn’t make it to the final shortlist.

Jury chairperson and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur praised Tripathi’s “good” performance.

Best supporting actress was won by Divya Dutta for the Hindi film, Irada, while Bollywood also won an award with Toilet: Ek Prem Katha bagging an accolade for Ganesh Acharya who won Best Choreography for the song Gori tu latth maar from the film.

“This is a very proud moment for all of us. We are extremely grateful and thankful to the jury for recognising the merit in the song Gori tu latth maar. This was another special collaboration with Akshay Kumar sir and another big moment for us,” producer Prernaa Arora said in a statement.

The song is picturised on actors Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar.

It was a winning streak for regional cinema with the Best Feature Film won by the Assamese production, Village Rockstars. Bhanita Das from the film also won Best Child Artiste.

Baahubali The Conclusion bagged several awards, including Best Action Direction, Best Special Effects and Best Popular Film.

Baahubali 2

The Best Film for National Integration was won by the Marathi film Dhappa, while the Best Film on Social Issues was won by Aalorukkam.

The Best Actor award was given to Riddhi Sen for the Bengali film Nagar Kirtan. The film also won the Best Make-up and a Special Jury Award.

Thondimuthalam Driksakshiyum won the Best Malayalam Film Award, and the award for the Best Screenplay by Sajeev Pazhoor; actor Fahadh Faasil won the Best Supporting Actor award for the same film, directed by Dileesh Pothan.

Fahadh Faasil in Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum.

Malayalam cinema witnessed another win with Bhayanakam, which bagged Best Direction for Jayaraj and Best Adaptive Screenplay.

Meanwhile, musical maestro AR Rahman won the award for Best Music Direction for Kaatru Veliyidai and background score for Mom. Singer KJ Yesudas won the award for Best Playback Singer Male for Poyi Maranjakaalam from Viswasapoorvam Mansoor and Shashaa Tirupati won the award for Best Playback Female for Vaan Varuvaan from Kaatru Veliyidai.

KJ Yesudas

Actress Taapsee Pannu was ecstatic that her film Ghazi was named the Best Telugu film.

“Elated with the news about Ghazi winning the Best Telugu film. This is the third time I have had the opportunity to be a part of a National Award winning film,” Pannu said in a statement. “Even though I had a special appearance in the film, it was personally a very satisfying part for me as an actor. I’m ecstatic with the news about the film winning the National Award honour,” she added.

Ghazi or The Ghazi Attack is directed by Sankalp Reddy. The film is based on the mysterious sinking of PNS Ghazi during the India-Pakistan war of 1971. It features Rana Daggubati, Kay Kay Menon and Atul Kulkarni in key roles.

The Best Regional Film was won by Ladhakh, while special mentions were given to Marathi Film Murakhiya, Odissa film Hello RC; Take Off from Malayalam cinema and Malayalam actor Parvathy.

Aside from Sridevi, actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna, who died last year, was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award — the highest cinema honour in India — posthumously.

It was a collective decision of the National Film Awards jury, chaired by filmmaker Kapur, to confer the award on Khanna, who starred in some of the biggest Bollywood hits like Mere Apne, Chandni and Amar, Akbar, Anthony.

Kapur told the media he wished he had worked with Khanna at least once.

The veteran actor died in Mumbai on April 27 last year after prolonged illness. He was 70.

— With staff inputs