Romantic period drama Bajirao Mastani, starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, helped its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali win the award for best director, besides bagging five mor
Romantic period drama Bajirao Mastani, starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, helped its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali win the award for best director, besides bagging five more honours.
“This is my first national award as a director, it is really very special. My mother always prayed that I should get one and here I get it. Her prayers are answered,” Bhansali told PTI.
Filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, who headed a 11-member jury, announced the awards in New Delhi on Monday.
Much-acclaimed Masaan had to be satisfied with just a best debut director award for Neeraj Ghaywan.
Baahubali star Rana Daggubati said: “I am thrilled. We took a risk and attempted something different with it. Now with this award we feel honoured.”
Sharat Katariya’s debut Dum Laga Ke Haisha, a 1990s set drama in Hardwar about the romance between a mismatched couple, was named best Hindi film. Salman Khan-starrer cross-border drama Bajrangi Bhaijaan was named best popular film providing wholesome entertainment. The best adapted screenplay honour went to Vishal Bhardwaj for real-life inspired crime drama Talvar, while the best original screenplay and dialogue was shared between Juhi Chaturvedi (Piku) and Himanshu Sharma (Tanu Weds Manu Returns).
The Nargis Dutt award for best feature film on national integration was won by Nanak Shah Fakir, which also got the best costume honour.
Actress Kalki Koechlin’s stint as a girl afflicted with cerebral palsy in Shonali Bose’s Margarita with a Straw got a special jury mention.
Bajirao Mastani also earned Tanvi Azmi the best supporting actress honour for her portrayal of a shrewd mother, while Remo D’Souza got his first national award for choreographing two chart-topping numbers Pinga and Deewani Mastani. The period drama also won majorly in technical categories like cinematography, production design, re-recordist and sound design, thereby becoming the biggest gainer at the ceremony with six trophies.
Among regional films, Tamil star Samuthirakani bagged the best supporting actor award for his role in thriller Visaranai, based on M. Chandrakumar’s novel Lock Up.
It also won the best Tamil film and best editing awards.
Dum Laga Ke Haisha’s popular soft melody Moh Moh ke Dhaage earned two honours for its female singer Monali Thakur and lyricist Varun Grover. Mahesh Kale took home the best playback singer (male) award for crooning in the Marathi film Katyar Kaljat Ghusali.
Baahubali, which won best feature film honour, also scored the best special effects award for CGI-laden screenplay. Resul Pookutty’s co-production Nanak Shah Fakir, based on the life and teachings of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev, won the Nargis Dutt Award for best feature film on national integration, besides best costume design and makeup.
Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal, a dramatically disturbing exposition of the ill-effects of pesticides in North Kerala, bagged best film on environmental conservation.
The story of a child prodigy, Duronto, won the best children’s film, while actor Gaurav Menon took home the best child artist award for his performance in Ben. Nirnayakam was named the best film on social issues.
Meghna Gulzar’s Talvar also bagged the best location sound recordist honour.
The best song award went to Kaathirun Nu Kaathirunnu from Ennu Ninte Moideen, while ace composer Ilaiyaraaja won the best background score honour for Thaarai Thappattai.
Bhaskar Hazarika’s Kothanodi won the best Assamese film award, while veteran filmmaker Goutam Ghose’s evocative story Shankhachil took home the trophy for the best Bengali movie.
