CHENNAI: Tamil films swept the 58th National Film Awards for 2010 with 13 awards.
Saranya Ponvannan won the Best Actress Award for her performance in Thenmerku Paruvakaatru , directed by Seenu Ramaswamy, which also won the award for Best Tamil Film.
Thambi Ramaiah was awarded Best Supporting Actor for his role in Myna .
Lyricist Vairamuthu said he felt honoured to have written songs for a film that was an ode to motherhood.
“It is very rare that we celebrate the life of a poor distraught mother in a village, and this film was special for that reason. I dedicate my award to all mothers who have toiled to see their children educated,” he said.
Saranya, who shares her first National Award with Mitalee Jagtap Varadkar, said she was very proud. “It is an encouraging trend that an actor who plays a deglamourised, old widow in a film is being chosen for the Best Actress award, and not the Best Supporting Actress award,” she said.
Actor Dhanush, who shared the Best Actor Award with Malayalam actor Salim Kumar dedicated his award to the speedy recovery of father-in-law Rajinikanth.
Sabu Cyril who won his third National Award — Best Production Design for Enthiran — said he was happy that his work had been recognised.
“It was science-fiction, one of its kind, and required complete concentration,” he said.
Vetrimaran, who won the Best Director award, said he was happy but did not want comment on his film’s success.