Wednesday, July 13, 2005: (New Delhi):
Page 3, the story of a journalist covering the cocktail circuit, was declared the Best Film as the National Film Awards were announced today.
"The Best Feature Film has been awarded to Page 3, produced by Bobby Pushkarna and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar for the complex and daring attempt to expose the shallow world of Page 3 in a savagely satirical yet gently ironical manner," said Sudhir Mishra, chairman of the jury.
Bhandarkar's Page 3 also walked off with the awards for Best Editor and Best Screenplay.
"It's a great feeling and I'm happy that technicians have also got their due," said Bhandarkar.
Saif judged Best Actor
Actor Saif Ali Khan has been judged the Best Actor for his performance in the film Hum Tum "for his sheer ease and subtlety for playing a complex role", Mishra announced.
Veer Zaara, the love story between an Indian Air Force officer and a Pakistan girl, won the Best Popular Film award along with the Tamil film The Autograph.
The head of the jury Sudhir Mishra declared that Bose: The Forgotten Hero, a film on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, has won the Nargis Dutt award for National Integration.
Rituparno Ghosh's Raincoat has been judged the Best Film in Hindi.
Dasgupta bags Best Director Award
Buddhadeb Dasgupta has been adjudged the Best Director award for the movie Swapner Din.
In a career spanning nearly three decades, Dasgupta is no stranger at awards at home and overseas.
His 14th film, Swapner Din (Chased by Dreams) tells the story of a government servant who travels from one village to another screening educational films and a pregnant Muslim girl running away from riot-hit Gujarat.
Haseena sweeps awards
Four-times National Award winner Girish Kasaravalli's Haseena also won the award for the Best Film on Family Welfare.
The Best Actress Award went to Tara for her performance in Haseena and the same movie also won the Best Costume award.
Haseena is based on a short story by Bhaanu Mushtaq, deals with the story of a woman whose daughter is blind, and her travails.
Chitra won the Best Playback Singer for The Autograph and rubber band man Prabhu Deva won the Best Choreagraphy for his work in Lakshya.
