BANGALORE: At the Karnataka State Film Awards ceremony for 2008-09 held on Saturday, veteran actress Padma Bhushan Dr B Saroja Devi was honoured with the Dr Rajkumar Award and renowned director K S R Dass received the Puttanna Kanagal Award. Dr Vishnuvardhan Award was presented to noted producer A R Raju and veteran cinematographer R N K Prasad.
On the glitzy evening, young actor Yogi got the Best Actor for his portrayal of a cobbler in ‘Ambari’ and starlet Radhika Pandit was recognized as the Best Actress for ‘Moggina Manasu’. The Best Actor award carries a cash prize of Rs 20,000 and a 100 gm silver medal each.
For 2008-09, ‘Kabaddi’, ‘Josh’ and ‘Shankara Punyakoti’ shared the top three honours. While ‘Kabaddi’ was presented with a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a 100-gm gold medal, ‘Josh’ got Rs 75,000 and ‘Shankara Punyakoti’ Rs 50,000 and a silver medal weighing 50 gm.
Dr Rajkumar, Puttanna Kanagal and Dr Vishnuvardhan Lifetime Achievement awards are constituted with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and a gold medal each. After the kicking off with a mellifluous shehnai recutak by Pt Shailesh Bhagwat, the awards ceremony witnessed some good performances by artistes Tara, Srinagar Kitty, Rupika, Yash, Meghana, Chiranjeevi Sarja and Rishika, among others. However, many in the audience who had to brave the humid interiors of the Koramangala Indoor Stadium, were not thoroughly enthused by the song and dance routines and were left wanting for more.
Those who attended the event include the CM and Home Minister R Ashok.
Roll of honour
Dr Rajkumar Award : Dr B Saroja Devi
Puttanna Kanagal Award : KSR Dass
Dr Vishnuvardhan Award : AR Raju, RNK Prasad
Best Film : 'Kabaddi'
Best Music Director : Abhimaan
Best Actor : Yogi (‘Ambari’)
Best Actress : Radhika Pandit (‘Moggina Manasu’)
Special subsidies announced :
Kannada films which are riding on a wave after bagging four national awards are in for a major fillip starting this year with the government deciding to extend the subsidy scheme of Rs 20 lakh per film to 70 movies from the present 50. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced this at a glittering programme organized to distribute the Karnataka State Film awards for 2008-09.
Further, the government would revoke tax burden on film distributors. “There is a proposal before the government regarding the taxes and we are considering it,” the chief minister said.
Applauding national film award winners from the state, Yeddyurappa wished directors PR Ramadas Naidu (Hejjegalu), P Sheshadri (Bettada Jeeva), B Suresh (Puttakkana Highway) and film critic Manu Chakravarthy on their achievements. “It’s a proud moment for us with these awardees upholding the legacy of Puttanna Kanagal, Pattabhirama Reddy, Lankesh, Girish Kasaravalli, and others,” he observed.
Yeddyurappa also cited his government’s contributions to the film industry and in promoting the culture of the state. “We have released Rs 10 crore for Dr Vishnuvardhan memorial, after Dr Rajkumar’s memorial. For Amrutha Mahotsava Bhavan, we have allotted Rs 5 crore and for the Artistes’ Association, we have earmarked Rs 3 crore,” he explained.