President Confers 62nd National Film Awards at Vigyan Bhavan

NEW DELHI:Lauding the revolution spurred by technological advancements in the film industry, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said that novel techniques, such as digitisation, must not lead to loss of touch with grass roots and our content has to be our strength as it is entrenched sharply in our vibrant culture.

Pranab conferred the 62nd national film awards at a ceremony in Vigyan Bhavan. A total of 21 awards were given by the President in the non-feature film category, while the number of awards in feature film category was 45. Regional films and actors ruled the roost at the awards ceremony.

The audience was enthralled by live musical performances by Sukhwinder Singh and Uttara Unnikrishnan -- both of whom won awards for best play back singer. The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award will be given to veteran actor Shashi Kapoor in Mumbai as he could not attend the function here due to ill-health.

“We live in a rapidly changing world to which the film industry will have to adjust and adapt. Technology has brought down the cost of production and expanded the mechanisms of dissemination,” Pranab said. Also present on the occasion were Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs, and Information & Broadcasting Arun Jaitley and MoS I&B Col Rajyavardhan Rathore. Court, showcasing cumbersome judicial procedures, bagged the best film award. Kannada actor Vijay was judged the best actor award for his portrayal of a woman trapped inside a man’s body in Nanu Avanalla Avaluand and the best supporting actor award was conferred on Bobby Simhaa for his Tamil film Jigarthanda. Bengali film Asha Jaoar Majhe won the Indira Gandhi Award for best Debut Film of a Director, whereas best film on social issues went to Chatoder Chobi, a film based on the struggles of the marginalised.

Kangana Ranaut won the best actress award for her blockbuster hit Queen, which also won the best Hindi film award.