NEED OF IN DEPTH STUDY OF FILMS FOR NATIONAL AWARDS!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Assamese director Rima Das & 'Best Feature Film' winner her 'Village Rockstars'!

 

'Phalke Award' winner (late) Vinod Khanna!

65th National Film Awards just announced and disappointed by it's some selection which showed flaws (again 'Newton') repetition ('Bahubali') and promotion of propaganda films (like 'Toilet Ek Premkataha' won Choreography award). Apart from this political influence too..like this time Dadasaheb Phalke Award announced same time and to late MP of BJP...Vinod Khanna!

'Best Actress Award' conferred to (late) Sridevi for 'Mom'!

This time Assamese 'Village Rockstars' won main Best Feature Film and two other Best Editing & Best Child artist awards! I saw this film in festival and frankly speaking did not find that appealing. It's social content..dream of poor children to become musicians..is valid but not new to cinema. In the beginning film gives feel of Truffaut kind French new wave treatment.. remembered his short film (not content wise) 'Mischief Makers'! And latter film goes like Iranian (Majidi style) social cinema! But without any training it's director Rima Das did good job in taking shots with handled camera..on non-actors who are from village!

Best Director award winner Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj!

Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj won Best Director award for his film 'Bhayanakam' which sound horror; but in some way social! It's an adaptation of Jnanpith winner writer T. S. Pillai's novel 'Kayar' which depicts the terror of World War II. This film also won Best Adapted Screenplay and Cinematography awards! I have been watching Jayaraj's films since 'Desadanam' (1996) and aware of his sensible treatment!

'Best Actor' winner Riddhi Sen in Bengali film 'Nagar Kirtan'!

It's notable that (late) actress of our popular Indian cinema..Sridevi acted 'Mom' won Best Actress National Award. It's like tribute to her! About Best Actor..young Bengali theatre actor Riddhi Sen won it for his role in 'Nagar Kirtan' (?). Following the trend..this Kaushik Ganguly directed transgender love Bengali film also won Special Jury award!

'Newton' won 'Best Hindi Film'!

This time again 'Baahubali 2' won 'Best Popular Film' and two other fixed awards for Action Direction & Special Effects!..And Amit Masurkar's 'Newton' won 'Best Hindi Film' award! Last year after big success, this film was selected for Oscar entry..which was wrong; because the plot of this movie was adapted from original Iranian film 'Secret Ballot' (2001) made by Babak Payami! That time I wrote an article on this! But this time national award also went to 'Newton' which is disappointing!

'Best Marathi Film' winner 'Kachcha Limbu'!

(Artists: Sonali Kulkarni, Sachin Khedekar, 

Ravi Jadhav & Manmeet Pem!).

Then in regional cinema Best Marathi Film award won by Prasad Oak directed 'Kachcha Limbu' which was originally a play 'Nati Goti' by Jayawant Dalavi. On this successful (melo)drama..this film came on screen with black & white experiment; but the old styled characterization, loud acting and treatment seems not matched with the current social scenario!

'Best Assamese Film' won by 'Ishu' directed by Utpal Borpujari!

In this Best Gujrati Film award won by 'DHH' which is a children film with magic! Then 'Children's Film Society' produced 'Ishu' won Best Assamese Film award. This is directed by my film journalist friend Utpal Borpujari. I saw in festival here and found some similarity (in story) with Marathi film 'Mati Maay' (2006) made by Chitra Palekar on the novel by Mahasweta Devi!..But his cinematic treatment is good!

'Masoom' fame sensitive filmmaker Shekhar Kapoor was head of the jury this time for these national awards! So naturally children were in focus!

'Best Choreography' winner

'Toilet Ek Prem Katha'(!)

But overall judging the films for our prestigious National Awards there should be comprehensive in depth study of the entries by the experts of cinema!

Congratulations to all the winners of National Awards!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]