Saif, Thaara, Adoor shine as Kalam presents national film awards...

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, (IANS) Malayalam filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Kannada actress Thaara and Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan shone on an evening of glitter and glamour as President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Friday gave away the National Film Awards for 2004.

Some of the loudest cheering during the over two-hour-long function was reserved for the trio.

Gopalakrishnan was conferred the Dada Saheb Phalke award for lifetime contribution to cinema, Thaara the best actress award for "Hasina" and Saif the best actor award for "Hum Tum".

Madhur Bhandarkar's "Page 3" a dark satirical take on the intersecting worlds of fashion, journalism and films, received the best film award.

The imposing high-ceilinged Vigyan Bhawan, where the function was held, was tastefully done up for the 52nd edition of the awards and packed to capacity with stars and personalities reflecting the spectrum of Indian cinema.

Speaking after giving away the awards, Kalam eloquently wove in his vision of a developed India into the dynamics of the film industry, pointing to three developmental projects in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil that could provide a wealth of stories that could be turned into "box office successes".

"You will bring great joy by bringing these stories out," Kalam said, making it a point to mention all the departments involved in the making of a film, saying these individuals too would grow as human beings by telling these stories.

"Do you want a page in history?" Kalam asked and then provided the answer: "Ask yourself what you want to be remembered for and this will help you evolve yourself and shape your life."

Information and Broadcasting Minister S. Jaipal Reddy, ministry secretary S.K. Arora and Director of the Directorate of Film Festivals Afzal Amanullah were among those who attended the function.

"Page 3", described as a "complex and daring attempt to expose the shallow world of Page 3 - a reference to the coverage of celebrities and parties by newspapers - in a savagely satirical and gently ironical way", also emerged a winner in the screenplay and editing categories.

Saif, the son of cricket legend Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore, was commended by the 17-member jury, headed by filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, for his "sheer ease, subtlety and spontaneity in portraying a complex and demanding role".

Yash Chopra's "Veer Zaara" and Tamil director Cheran's "Autograph" shared the award for the most popular film providing wholesome entertainment.

The Nargis Dutt award for the best film on national integration went to Shyam Benegal's "Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose - The Forgotten Hero" on one of India's most controversial and mystery-shrouded independence heroes.

The best director was Buddhadeb Dasgupta for "Swapner Din".

The best supporting actor award went to Bengali film actor Haradhan Banerjee for "Krantikaal". Banerjee, a veteran of many celebrated Bangla films and also a regular in Satyajit Ray's movies, has been commended for his "subtle yet powerful portrayal" of a helpless bed-ridden royal.

Malayalam actress Sheela bagged the best supporting actress award for Malayalam film "Akale", for the grace with which she depicts the tragedy of a community fading away.

The best child artist award has been given to Om Bhutakar for the Hindi film "Chhota Sipahi", in which he plays a naïve boy who gradually evolves into a patriot during the Goa liberation movement.

Bhutakar reverently touched Kalam's feet and the president placed his left arm around the boy's shoulders and conducted a brief but animated conversation with him before moving on with the function.

The critically acclaimed film "Swades" was able to make its presence felt in the category of playback singing - the award for which went to Udit Narayan - and cinematography.

The award for the best female playback singer was given to Chitra for her songs in the film "Autograph".

Energetic actor-dancer Prabhu Deva won the national award for best choreography in the Hindi film "Lakshya". His work was described as "spectacular and imaginative" by the jury.

"Amu", the English language film depicting the trauma of the 1984 riots and made by Shonali Bose, bagged an award for best feature film in English.

The award for best non-feature film, chosen by a separate jury, went to Marathi film "Girni" directed by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni.

Another Marathi film "Dwijaa" was declared the best film on social issues.

The award for the best book on cinema was given to "Stardust-Vignettes from the Fringes of the Film Industry".

Namrata Joshi was chosen as the best film critic.