'Paan Singh Tomar' shines, 'Bharath Stores' best in Kannada

 “Paan Singh Tomar,” an on-screen adaptation of the life of an Indian Army athlete-turned-brigand, was adjudged the best feature film at the 60th National Film Awards announced on Monday.

Irrfan Khan, who played Tomar, was declared the best actor. He will share the honours with veteran actor Vikram Gokhale, who was awarded for his performance in the Marathi film “Anumati.”

Usha Jadhav bagged the best actress award for her role in the Marathi film “Dhag,” which dealt with the stark realities of a crematorium. Shivaji Lotan Patil, who hectored “Dhag,” was adjudged the best director.

The best feature film award entails a Swarna Kamal and Rs 2.50 lakh each to director Tigmanshu Dhulia and the producer, UTV Software. The best actor award will carry two separate Rajat Kamals and Rs 50,000, to be shared by Khan and Gokhale.

The National Film Award for the best Kannada movie went to “Bharath Stores” directed by P Sheshadri, while “Celluloid” won the best Malayalam film award. Kannada actor H G Dattatreya got a special mention for his portrayal of a small-time retailer in “Bharath Stores.” “Vazakkuenn 18/9” won the best Tamil film award while “Eega” was adjudged the best Telugu film.

The best film award under the language category carry a Rajat Kamal and Rs 1 lakh cash each to the director and the producer.

Kamal Haasan’s “Vishawaroopam,” which came under attack from a minority community prior to its release, won the best production design award.

Pandit Birju Maharaj was awarded the best choreography award for composing the
Kathak dance sequence in “Vishawaroopam.”

Singer Shankar Mahadevan took home the best male playback singer award for the song “Bolo na” from the Hindi movie “Chittagong,” while the best female playback singer award went to Aarti Anklekar Tikekar for the song “Palakein Na Moondon” from the Marathi film “Samhita.”

Prasoon Joshi bagged the best lyricist award for “Bolo Na.” Shailendra Barve was declared the best music director for “Samhita.” The award for the best background score went to Biji Bal for the Malayalam movie “Kaliyachan.” Bedabrata Pain’s “Chittagong” bagged the Indira Gandhi award for the best debut film.

Malayalam film “Black Forest,” produced by Baby Mathew Somatheeram and directed by Joshy Mathew, won the award for the best film on environment conservation. Malayalam film “Spirit,” which sought to establish the ills of alcoholism, was conferred the best film on social issues award.

The award for the best popular film went to “Vicky Donor,” produced by John Abraham and Malayalam film “Ustad Hotel,” directed by Anwar Rasheed. Anjali Menon won the best
screenplay award for “Ustad Hotel.”

“Vicky Donor” actors Dolly Ahluwalia and Annu Kapoor won the best supporting actress and actor awards respectively.

Ahluwalia will share the award with Kalpana, who won the award for her performance in the Malayalam film “Thanichalla Njan.” The film, produced by Cherian Philippose, also won the Nargis Dutt award for the best feature film on social integration.
Nikhil Adani’s Delhi Safari was adjudged the best animation film.

Director Sujoy Ghosh won the best original screenplay writer award for the Vidya Balan starrer “Kahaani,” while another Hindi film, “Oh My God,” fetched Bhavesh Mandalia and Umesh Shukhla the best adapted screenplay award. “Kahaani” won the best edited film award.

For six crore retailers

P Sheshadri dedicated the national award to the six crore retailers in the country.
“This is for the simple reason that they are the basis of the movie. I have tried to explain how the recent decision of the Union government to introduce Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector could affect the lives of small traders and shop owners,” he said.  This is the seventh national award for Sheshadri.