Geetanjali Thapa bags best national actress

KalimNews, agencies: Hindi movie ‘Shahid’, based on the life of murdered human rights lawyer Shahid Azmi, won the best actor award for actor Rajkummar Rao and the best director award for Hansal Mehta in the 61st National Film Awards announced on Wednesday (April 16). PHOTOS: Big winners at 61st National Film Awards “It is a wonderful feeling. It is a tribute to Shahid Azmi. It is just his karma which has worked for the film and for us. It’s also a tribute to my team who stood by me for three and a half years while making this film,” Mehta said.

Reacting to the news, Rao said: “I am more than happy. It is the most important day of my life. Never expected this to happen. I am thankful to everyone actually Hansal Mehta, Shahid team and the audience. I am overwhelmed.” He shared the Best Actor award with Suraj Venjaramoodu, who was honoured for his performance in Malayalam movie Perariyathavar.

Among the first to congratulate Rao was his Kai Po Che director Abhishek Kapoor. He tweeted: @raj_kumar31 U Giant of an actor. Congrats on the #nationalaward. V proud if u.

Anand Gandhi’s debut film Ship of Theseus was on Wednesday named the best feature film while Milkha Singh’s biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was declared the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment at the 61st National Film Awards.

The best actor award was shared by Shahid actor Rajkumar Rao and Suraj Venjaramoodu for Malayalam film Perariyathavar while Hansal Mehta was named the best director for Shahid, again a biopic on slain lawyer-activist Shahid Azmi.

Geetanjali Thapa was named the best actress for Hindi film Liar’s Dice Saurabh Shukla was declared the best supporting actor for court-room drama Jolly LLB which was also named the best Hindi film.

The best supporting actress award is shared by Amruta Subhas and Aida El-Kashef for Astu (Marathi) and Ship of Theseus (English-Hindi).

Indira Gandhi Award for best debut film will go to Marathi director Nagraj Manjule for his critically acclaimed Fandry

Nargis Dutt Award for best feature film on National Integration will be given to Balu Mahendra directed Tamil film Thalaimuraigal

An 11-member jury, headed by noted directed Saeed Akhtar Mirza announced the awards on Wednesday.

The National Film Awards along with Dada Saheb Phalke honour, which will go to lyricist-director Gulzar this year, are likely to be given by President Pranab Mukherjee on May 3