Mail News Service
\nNew Delhi, May 3 : The Vice President, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said films played a significant role in portraying the linguistic and regional diversity of our culture. Indian cinema had successfully adapted traditional Indian narrative and oral traditions to the requirements of technology and formats of new media. Our films had become ambassadors of our culture, tradition and society. They fostered people-to-people relations and promoted our image and interests that had enduring significance. Indian commercial cinema formed a principal element of our culture and impacted the lives of the people. The Vice President, Shri M. Hamid Ansari stated this while delivering his address at the 59th National Film Awards function here today.
\n Elaborating further, the Vice President said selection of two films in regional languages as the Best Feature Films, was an achievement for regional film industry. It was an under-appreciated fact that over 80 per cent of the films certified for public exhibition were regional films. Complimenting Dada Sahab Phalke Award winner, the Vice President said the partnership of Shri Soumtira Chatterjee with Satyajit Ray could be counted as a memorable director-actor combination in the history of cinema. The Vice President also lauded the 11 children who had won the Best Child Artists Awards for the 59th National Film Awards.
\nThe best supporting actress award was given to Leishangthem Tonthoi. As a student, she was part of the University\u2019s women football team which participated in All India Women Football tournament. She has also been trained in playing the traditional music instrument Pena.
\n She has acted in Manipuri Feature Films and was also given the \u201cSpecial Mention Award\u201d in the 7th State Film Festival 2000. She played the role of Yaiphabee in the Manipuri Feature Film Phijigee Mami which was selected for the Indian Panorama 2011.
\n Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Smt. Ambika Soni said that the year 2013 would be observed as the Centenary year of Indian Cinema. India\u2019s first full length feature film \u201cRaja Harishchandra\u201d was released on 3rd May 1913 at Mumbai\u2019s Coronation Cinema. To commemorate the release of India\u2019s first film, the National Film Awards Ceremony would now on be held on 3rd of May every year.
\n The Minister added that cinema had always been the social mirror of Indian society, acting as a catalyst and believing in the power of ideas, human relationships and the plurality of Indian culture. She stated that cinema reflected the vast diversity and the intrinsic plurality of the Indian society. These awards have encouraged young film makers to believe in the \u201cEssence of Good and Meaningful Cinema\u201d. Elaborating further, the Minister stated that regional languages continued to be the mainstay of Indian cinema and that the National Film Award was an acknowledgement of good cinema irrespective of language barriers and budgetary constraints. The recognition given to offbeat film reflected the depth of national awards on the one hand and at the same time would encourage film makers in many other regional languages to make quality films.
\n The top honour in the Feature Film category, the Best Film is shared by films Deool (Marathi) produced by Abhijeet Gholap & directed by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni and Byari (Byari language) produced by T.H. Althaf Hussain & directed by Suveeram. The award carries Swarna Kamal and cash prize of Rs. 2,50,000\/-. I The awards carries Swarna Kamal and Cash prize of Rs. 1,50,000\/-. In Best Writing on Cinema category the Swarna Kamal goes to the book titled R.D. Burman \u2013 The Man, The Music written by Anirudha Bhattacharjee & Balaji Vittal, published by Harper Collins India. Whereas Manoj Barpujari from Assam has been awarded Best Film Critic.
\n In Feature Film category, five films have won three awards each. These Films are The Dirty Picture (Hindi), Balgandharva (Marathi), Anhe Ghorey Da Daan (Punjabi), Deool (Marathi) & Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbo Na (Bengali). Six films have won two awards each. These are Chillar Party (Hindi), Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai (Tamil), Aaranyakandam (Tamil), Phijigee Mani (Manipuri) , Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (Hindi) & Game (Hindi). <\/p>\n\n