68th National Film Awards: Suriya, Ajay Devgn share Best Actor honour
New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: Popular South star Suriya and Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn shared the Best Actor award as the 68th National Film Awards for 2020 were announced on Friday after a long hiatus.
While Suriya bagged the award for Tamil movie 'Soorarai Pottru', Ajay Devgn won the same for the Hindi feature film 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior'.
In a statement, Devgn said, ‘’I am elated to win the Best Actor Award for ‘Tanhaji—The Unsung Warrior’ at the 68th National Awards along with Suriya who won for "Soorarai Pottru".
"I thank everyone, most of all my creative team, the audience and my fans. I also express my gratitude to my parents & the Almighty for their blessings. Congratulations to all the other winners.’’
Manoj Muntashir won the award for Best Lyrics for the Hindi movie 'Saina', starring Parineeti Chopra.
The Best Actress award was bagged by Aparrna Balamurali for 'Soorarai Pottru' and the Best Feature Film also went to the Tamil masterpiece directed by Sudha Kongara.
‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ grabbed the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Devgn, who is the producer of the ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior', shared: "As the producer of 'Tanhaji...', it gives me immense joy to receive an honour at the 68th National Film Awards for the Best film that has provided wholesome entertainment.
“Tanhaji was exactly that. It is a good story of friendship, loyalty, family values and sacrifice. It has strong national sentiments, super VFX and a holistic approach in entertainment.
""I must share the honour with my director Om Raut, my co-producers, T-Series and my co-actors. Most of all, I thank my creative team who has contributed handsomely to making this a blockbuster and now a National Award winner," he added.
Madhya Pradesh won the ‘Most Film Friendly State’ award while Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh got Special Mention.
'The Longest Kiss' by Kishwar Desai won ‘Best Book on Cinema’ for the year, while Malayalam book ‘MT Anunahvangalude Pusthakam’ and Odia book ‘Kali Paine Kalira Cinema’ got a special mention.
The ‘Best Non-Feature Film’ was won by ‘Testimony of Ana’.
In the non-feature category: Best Narration/Voice Over went to Shobha Tharoor Sreenivasan for Rahpsody of Rains - Monsoons of Kerala (English); Best Music Direction went to ace filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj for 1232 kms: Marenge to Wanhi Jaakar (Hindi);
Best Editing in the non-feature category went to Anadi Athaley for Borderlands in Bengali, Nepali, Manipuri, Hindi and Punjabi. Best Direction to RV Ramani for 'Oh That's Bhanu'.
Best Short Fiction went to Karbi's film 'The Boy with a Gun' (Kachchinithu).
DMRC produced 'Surmounting Challenges' bagged the Best promotional film.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur congratulated all the winners and said, “2020 was a particularly difficult year for films due to the Covid pandemic, yet the nominations consisted of great works.”
The Minister also thanked the Jury for diligently going through the entries and selecting the best for the awards.
The Jury comprised eminent filmmakers and film personalities from across the Indian cine world.
The awards were announced by Chitrartha Singh, Chairperson, Non-Feature Jury, Anant Vijay, Chairperson, Best Writing on Cinema Jury and Dharam Gulati, Feature Film Jury (Member – Central Panel).
Neerja Sekhar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was also present on the occasion.
The National Film Awards will be handed out in a ceremony later this year.
Here's the full list of winners:
FEATURE FILMS:
Best Feature Film: Soorarai Pottru
Best Direction: Sachy, Ayyappanum Koshiyum
Best Actress: Aparna Balamurali, Soorarai Pottru
Best Actor: Suriya, Soorarai Pottru and Ajay Devgn for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
Best Supporting Actress: Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli, Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengalum
Best Supporting Actor: Biju Menon, AK Ayyappanum Koshiyum
Best Telugu Film: Colour Photo
Best Tamil Film: Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengallum
Best Malayalam Film: Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam
Best Marathi Film: Goshta Eka Paithanichi
Best Kannada Film: Dollu
Best Hindi Film: Toolsidas Junior
Best Bengali Film: Avijatrik
Best Assamese Film: Bridge
Special Mention: Vaanku (Malayalam), June (Marathi), Avwanchhit (Marathi), Godakaath (Marathi),Toolsidas Junior (Hindi)
Best Tulu Film: Jeetige
Best Haryanvi Film: Dada Lakhmi
Best Diimasa Film: Semkhor
Best Action Direction: AK Ayyappanum Koshiyum
Best Choreography: Natyam (Telugu)
Best Lyrics: Saina
Best Music Direction: Ala Vaikunthapurramulo (Songs): Thaman S
(Background Score): Soorarai Pottru
Best Make-Up: Natyam
Best Production Design: Kappela
Best Editing: Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengallum
Best Audiography: Dollu
Best Screenplay: Soorarai Pottru
Best Dialogue Writer: Mandela
Best Cinematography: Avijatrik (The Wanderlust of Apu)
Best Female Playback Singer: Nanchamma, AK Ayyappanum Koshiyum
Best Male Playback Singer: Rahul Deshpande, Mi Vasantrao
Best Film on Environment Conservation: Manah Aru Manuh (Assam)
Most Film-Friendly State: Madhya Pradesh
NON-FEATURE FILMS
Best Narration: Rhapsody of Rains - Monsoons of Kerala
Best Editing: Borderlands
Best Audiography: Dollu
Best On-Location Sound Recordist: Magical Forest
Best Cinematography: Shabdikkunna Kalappa
Best Direction: Oh That's Bhanu
Best Film on Family Values: Kumkumarchan
Best Short Fiction Film: Kachichinithu
Special Jury Award: Admitted
Best Investigative Film: The Saviour: Brig. Pritam Singh
Best Exploration Film: Wheeling the Ball
Best Education Film: Dreaming of Words
Best Film on Social Issues: Justice Delayed but Delivered
Best Environment Film: Manah Aru Manuh
Best Promotional Film: Surmounting Challenges
Best Art and Culture Film: Naadada Navaneeta DR PT Venkateshkumar
Best Biographical Film: Pabung Syam
Best Ethnographic Film: Mandal ke Bol
Best Non-Feature Film: Testimony of Ana
Best Debut Non-Feature Film of a Director: Pariah
Best Book on Cinema: The Longest Kiss, by Kishwar Desai
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