The number of entries in all the three broad sections of awards ----Feature Films, Non-Feature Films and Best writing on Cinema have been increasing year by year. The number of entries for 2011 stood at 186 in the feature films category, which is the highest in the history of the National Film Awards. Last year, 161 entries were received in this category. Entries in the non-feature films category have also steadily rising and this year 156 entries as compared to 113 last year.
The 59TH National Film Awards function will be held on Thursday at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The awards will be given away by the Vice President of India. Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Ambika Soni will be present on the occasion.
Iconic Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee will receive the top honour in India cinema - Dada Sahib Phalke Award for the year 2011. The 77 year old actor made his debut in 1959 in Satyajit Ray’s APUR SANSAR and later acted in 14 of his films. The award will be presented to the veteran actor during the Awards function.
The highlights of the 59th National Film Awards: The top honour in the Feature Film category, the Best Film is shared by films Deool (Marathi) produced by Abhijeet Gholap and directed by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni and Byari (Byari language) produced by T.H. Althaf Hussain and directed by Suveeram. The award carries Swarna Kamal and cash prize of Rs. 2, 50,000/-.
In Non-feature film category the top honour, Best Film goes to ‘And We Play On’ (Hindi & English) directed and produced by Pramod Purswane. The awards carries Swarna Kamal and Cash prize of Rs. 1, 50,000/-. In Best Writing on Cinema category the Swarna Kamal goes to the book titled R.D. Burman – The Man, The Music written by Anirudha Bhattacharjee & Balaji Vittal, published by Harper Collins India, whereas Manoj Barpujari from Assam has been awarded Best Film Critic.
In Feature Film category, five films have won three awards each. These Films are The Dirty Picture (Hindi), Balgandharva (Marathi), Anhe Ghorey Da Daan (Punjabi), Deool (Marathi) and Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbo Na (Bengali). Six films have won two awards each. These are Chillar Party (Hindi), Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai (Tamil), Aaranyakandam (Tamil), Phijigee Mani (Manipuri), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (Hindi) & Game (Hindi).
The Best Actor award goes to Girish Kulkarni for film Deool (Marathi) and Best Actress to Vidya Balan for the film The Dirty Picture (Hindi). Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai (Tamil) won the award for Wholesome Entertainment, Chillar Party (Hindi) won Best Children Film, Best Director to Gurvinder Singh for Punjabi film Anhe Ghorey Da Daan , Best Singer to Anand Bhate (Male) for Marathi film Balgandharva and Roopa Ganguly (Female) for the Bengali film Abosheyshey . Kumararaja Thiagarajan has won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut film of a Director.
In the Non-Feature film category, three films have won two awards each. The Film Tiger Dynasty has won the Best Environmental Film & Best Cinematography awards. Awards for Best Direction and Best Editing have been taken away by the film ‘There is something in the air’. Film Panchakki has been awarded Best Short Fiction and Best Music Direction.
The number of entries in all the three broad sections of awards ----Feature Films, Non-Feature Films and Best writing on Cinema have been increasing year by year. The number of entries for 2011 stood at 186 in the feature films category, which is the highest in the history of the National Film Awards. Last year, 161 entries were received in this category. Entries in the non-feature films category have also steadily rising and this year 156 entries as compared to 113 last year. More and more authors and writers are now sending their entries for awards in Best Writing on Cinema category.
Chatterjee’s career: In the career spanning more than five decades, Chatterjee has acted in more than 400 films including the films of Tapan Sinha, Mrinal Sen, Ajoy kar and Tarun Majumdar. Some of his notable films include APUR SANSAAR, DEVI, KHUDITO PASHAN, TEEN KANYA, ABHIJAN, CHARULATA, KAPURUSH, AKASH KUSUM, ARANYER DIN RATRI, ASHANI SANKET, SONAR KELLA, JOI BABA FELUNATH, HIRAK RAJAR DESHE, GHARE BAIRE, GANASHATRU, SHAKHA PROSHAKHA, PADAKSHEP, BALLYNGUNGE COURT, and ANGSHUMANER CHHOBI. (ssns)
