From mainstream cinema to art-house regional films, acclaimed artists in the showbiz won big at the less-anticipated yet much prestigious 63rd National Film Awards.
S. S. Rajamouli’s magnum opus Baahubali – The Beginning won the award for Best Feature Film, whereas the director, known for making period-historical costume dramas, Sanjay Leela Bhansali was named the Best Director for Ranveer-Deepika-Priyanka starrer Bajirao Mastani. Kabir Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which swayed the hearts (and minds) of Salman Khan fans, was declared the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
In acting, the mahanayak Amitabh Bachchan was honoured fourth time as Best Actor for playing an “eccentric and constipated Banerjee” in Piku. Big B’s previous wins are for Agneepath, Black and Paa. The award for Best Actress went to Kangana Ranaut who essayed two characters of free-spirited wife Tanuja and Haryanvi-speaking athlete Datto in Tanu Weds Manu Returns. It is her second consecutive win in this category after Queen last year. While the Tamil actor Samuthirakani was named Best Supporting Actor for Visaranai, the veteran Tanvi Azmi was awarded Best Supporting Actress for Bajirao Mastani.
Bajirao Mastani, Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Piku swept away the popular categories with a lion’s share of wins. Dum Laga ke Haisha won the award for Best Hindi Film and another one for the song ‘Moh Moh ke Dhaage’ performed by Monali Thakur. Neeraj Ghaywan received the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film Of A Director for Masaan.
Kalki Koechlin was given a Special Jury award for playing a young woman with cerebral palsy in Margarita With A Straw and a Special Mention award to Ritika Singh for her performance in Irudhi Suttru. The drama film Nanak Shah Fakir grabbed Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.
Below is a list of other significant winners at the National Film Awards 2016:
Best Original Screenplay: Juhi Chaturvedi for Piku and Himanshu Sharma for Tanu Weds Manu Returns
Best Dialogues: Juhi Chaturvedi for Piku and Himanshu Sharma for Tanu Weds Manu Returns
Best Music Direction: M. Jayachandran for Ennu Ninte Moideen
Best Background Music: Ilaiyaraaja for Tharai Thappattai
Best Editing: Late Kishore T.E for Visaranai
Best Cinematography: Sudeep Chatterjee for Bajirao Mastani
Best Choreography: Remo D’Souza for Bajirao Mastani
Best Children’s Film: Duronto
Best Malayalam Film: Pathemari
Best Telugu film: Kanche
Best Tamil film: Visaranai
Best Sanskrit Film: Priyamanasam
Best Kannada Film: Thithi
Best Marathi Film: Ringan
Best Khasi Film: Onaatah
Best Punjabi Film: Chauthi Koot
Best Haryanvi Film: Satrangi
Best Maithili Film: Mithila Makhaan
Best Manipuri Film: Eibusu Yaohanbiyu
Best Mizo Film: Kima’s Lode Beyond the Class
Best Odiya Film: Pahada Ra Luha
Best Konkani Film: Enemy
Best Film on Environment Conservation: Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal
