Bags National Best Actor Award For Role In ‘Hum Tum’
Times of India New Delhi

New Delhi: Actor Saif Ali Khan pulled off a surprise in the national film awards by winning the best actor award for his performance in Hindi film Hum Tum, while the mainstream Page 3 ruled the roost by winning three honours including the best feature film award.

Kannada actress Thaara won the best actress award for powerful portrayal of a young Muslim wife boldly questioning the traditional laws of her community in Hasina at the 52nd national film awards announced in the national capital on Wednesday.

The award for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment was shared by Yash Chopra’s Veer Zaara and Tamil film Autograph. Veteran filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta won the best direction award for the Bengali film Swapner Din for his complex handling of the socio-political situation in West Bengal.

Saif Ali Khan gave a slip to other tough contenders like Shahrukh Khan (Swades), Vijay Raaz (Hari Om) and Subodhro (Krantikaal) to win the best actor award for his role in the frothy romantic comedy Hum Tum for what the jury members described as “his sheer ease, subtlety and spontaneity in portraying a complex and demanding role’’. Chairman of the jury for feature films, Sudhir Mishra defended the choice of Saif, saying, “Shahrukh in Swades was not a bad performance. There were other performances also which were good. But here is an actor who is approaching a role in a different way’’.

Page 3 directed by Madhur Bhandarkar dominated the awards for 2004, winning three awards in the feature film section, including the Swarna Kamal for best film for a complex and daring attempt which exposes the shallow world of the socialites in a manner which is both savagely satirical yet gently ironical. The film also won the best screenplay and best editing awards.