The lines did blur with the new wave of thinking directors making commercial sense in Bollywood. But the 60th National Film Awards announced yesterday sealed a formula. The new Bollywood is all about the fringe, out-of-the-boxers punching their way out of existing contours and redefining mainstream entertainment. Unconventional is clearly the only convention.
Director Tigmanshu Dhulia led the chase with his biopic on Paan Singh Tomar named as the best picture and its lead Irrfan Khan getting the best actor award. Sujoy Ghosh’s city thriller Kahaani picked up original screenplay while Akshay Kumar’s Oh My God was the best adapted screenplay from a Gujarati play. Shoojit Sircar’s Vicky Donor was adjudged the best popular film for wholesome entertainment. Newcomer Parineeti Chopra received a Special Jury Mention for Ishaqzaade.
A clutch of supporting actors, Annu Kapoor and Dolly Ahluwalia from Vicky Donor, snapped up the category while Nawazuddin Siddiqui got the Special Jury to take notice of all his characters in Kahaani, Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur and Reema Kagti’s Talaash.
The jury, headed by veteran director Basu Chatterji, clearly valued originality of thought and their contextual integrity, so what if such films don’t make it to our Oscar export list. Paan Singh Tomar, the story of India’s seven-time steeple chase champion, who only chose sport because it paid him better than his job in the Army, and who turned a bandit only because he languished in his sunset years as a sportsman, has clearly been our Forrest Gump moment, a tragic hero who is now even the subject of a coffee table book. The jury also understood the underbelly of faith in Oh My God, of urban crimes in Kahaani and Gangs of Wasseypur and recognised a sperm donor’s legitimacy in society, that his quest for a fast buck did light up lives of childless couples. By declaring Marathi filmmaker Shivaji lotan Patil as the best director for Dhag, which deals with a family’s struggle to take care of their village crematorium, the jury showed that filmcraft
was now open to exploring issues that were hitherto under the carpet.
Clearly Shoojit Sircar was an elated man. Said he, “I never expected this. To be fair, since my film was about sperm donation, I thought it would be ticked off in some social category. I have never seen any film dealing with a taboo subject become a part of popular cinema. Today Vicky Donor has got cult status and has given a wider platform for new filmmakers to go wild with their imagination and conviction. This government acknowledgment means that the industry is indeed changing. Though I am not a person who believes in awards, but I am really happy for the producers of the film, Ronnie lahiri and John Abraham and the cast. Now I do not think producers will run shy of supporting fresher ideas. Vicky Donor also showed that you could get comfortable with and stylishly treat a subject that is usually considered corny but has social ramifications.”
Tigmanshu Dhulia was at his understated best, saying, “I wasn’t expecting a Best Film award but I knew Irrfan would win. There were so many good releases this year and to get a recognition such as a National Award means a lot.”
Irrfan Khan dedicated his award to the athlete and his family. “I am happy that
Paan Singh Tomar, who was unknown, became a household name through this film. I hope the film helps people realise that talent should not go waste,” he said.
Akshay Kumar, who dared to break format as a producer, tweeted, “Superb news, our first film OMG Oh MyGod under @GrazingGoatPix won a National Award for Best Adapted Screenplay! Truly an OMG moment for us.” Bollywood’s brawny actor John Abraham saved his brainy choice for Vicky Donor. “I credit my entire team for the film’s success. It couldn’t get better,” he said.
The newcomers spoke out in glee. Said Vicky Donor star Ayushmaan Khurana, “A National Award is the biggest honour a film or an artiste can get in our country. It’s extremely overwhelming and I’m proud to be a part of this project which has a rare combo of quirk and credibility.”
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is now the most sought-after character actor, was overwhelmed by his special category status. “It is a very important recognition for me as an actor, who has struggled for so long to find his foot in the industry. Awards are refreshing for us actors. It is good to get recognition after working so hard all year long. It instills in you a certain kind of energy to do better.”
Newcomer Parineeti Chopra, who received a Special Jury Mention for her movie Ishaqzaade, said the honour scared and humbled her. “It will definitely make me work even harder in the future!! Thank you jury.”
Vikram Gokhale shared the best actor award with Irrfan Khan for his poignant depiction of a man struggling to save his dying wife in the Marathi film Anumati. Usha Jadhav was adjudged the best actress for her portrayal of a rustic housewife in Dhag.
Though not in the main categories, Malayali films bagged 13 awards to emerge at the top. Director Kaushik Ganguly, whose film Shabdo revolves around a sound technician of the film industry, won the best Bengali film award. “The subject was unique but I am glad that the jury liked it. This is encouraging for us,” he said.
Rituparno Ghosh, who got the special jury award for Chitrangada that depicts alternative sexuality, summed up the theme of the awards the best. “So far people in India have started accepting reality at the their individual level but this award to the subject is from the government’s side.”
(Related report and chart on Page 13)