Soorarai Pottru sweeps the 68th National Film Awards, Tanhaji comes a close second

Soorarai Pottru won big at the 68th National Film Awards that were announced in New Delhi on Friday. Tamil film Soorarai Pottru won the National Award for Best Feature, Best Actor and Best Actress at the 68th National Film Awards for 2020 announced on Friday.

‘Thank you’

I thank my entire team and the state of Haryana on receiving the honour. It’s the hardwork of the team that I am most grateful for. The team stood at 49 degrees heat to put this project together. Yashpal Sharma, Director, DADA Lakhmi

It’s truly amazing. The docudrama is a tribute to Brig Pritam Singh, hopefully post this, more recognition follows for this true hero! Karanvir Singh Sibia, Producer, the saviour: Brig. Pritam Singh

The second big winner of the day was Ajay Devgn-starrer Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, which bagged the awards for Best Actor for Devgn and Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Devgn shared the Best Actor award with Suriya, who got it for Soorarai Pottru. The film, inspired by the life of Air Deccan founder Capt G R Gopinath, also won Aparrna Balamurali the Best Actress prize.

The late Malayalam filmmaker Sachidanandan KR was posthumously named Best Director for A K Ayyappanum Koshiyum. The Best Hindi Film award went to the sports drama, Toolsidas Junior. The Best Female Playback Singer won by Nanchamma for AK Ayyappanum Koshiyum; Rahul Deshpande received the Best Male Playback Singer award. Manoj Muntashir won the award for Best Lyrics for the Hindi movie Saina.

Best Haryanvi Film is won by Dada Lakhmi. Yashpal Sharma’s debut directorial film is a biopic on poet, philosopher Pandit Lakhmi Chand who popularised Saang—folk theatre of Haryana. Elated Yashpal Sharma thanked his entire team and the state of Haryana on receiving the honour. “It’s the hardwork of the team that I am most grateful for. The team stood at 49 degrees heat to put this project together,” says the actor-director.

The Best Investigative Film award was won by Punjabi film, The Saviour: Brig. Pritam Singh, directed by Dr Paramjeet Singh Kattu. Costume designers Nachiket Barve and Mahesh Sherla bagged Best Costume Design for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.

The state Madhya Pradesh won Most Film Friendly State award. The 10-member jury was headed Hindi filmmaker Vipul Shah.

— Compiled by Mona

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