 "National Award winners at awards ceremony in New Delhi")
President Pranab Mukherjee today presented the 63rd National Awards, including best actor trophy to Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, best actress to Kangana Ranaut and Dadasaheb Phalke award to Hindi film veteran Manoj Kumar.
78-year-old Kumar, best known for his patriotic films "Purab Aur Paschim", "Upkar" and "Kranti", became the 47th recipient of the award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, which consists of a golden lotus, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl.
The wheelchair-bound actor, who was sporting an orange bandana of Sai Baba, also presented the President with a crystal statue of the deity as he received the honour.
Bachchan, accompanied by son Abhishek, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, wife Jaya and daughter Shweta Nanda to the ceremony, won the award for his delightful performance as a hypochondriac father in Shoojit Sircar's family drama "Piku".
He received the Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000. This is the 73-year-old actor's fourth National award. He previously won in 1990 ("Agneepath"), 2005 ("Black") and 2009 ("Paa").
Ranaut, 29, currently engaged in a bitter legal fued with actor Hrithik Roshan, won the award for her double role in Anand L Rai's romantic comedy drama "Tanu Weds Manu Returns" of a troublesome wife Tanu and Haryanvi sportsperson Datto.
She also received Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000.
It is her third trophy at the National Awards, having earlier won best supporting actress for "Fashion" and best actress for "Queen" last year.
SS Rajamouli and producers Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni received Swarna Kamal, cash prize and a certificate for their magnum opus "Baahubali", which was the best feature film this year.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's historical romance "Bajirao Mastani", starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, earned him the best director honour besides the film bagging five more awards.
"It is so special. It is the acknowledgment of the government. You are being compared with the best of the nation. And there is a great jury comrpsing of talented people. It means a lot. It is a very proud moment for me. It is a reward for the twenty years of my hard work," Bhansali told PTI.
The award comprises a Swarna Kamal medallion, a cash prize of Rs 2,50,000 and a certificate.
National Award winners at awards ceremony in New Delhi
Superstar Salman Khan-starrer cross-border drama "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" won the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment.
"The film is very special to me. The kind of love that the film has got has made the journey so special. And on top of that to get a National Award is amazing. It makes it all more sweeter," director Kabir Khan said.
Sharat Katariya's debut "Dum Laga Ke Haisha", a '90s set drama in Haridwar about the romance between a mismatched couple, won the best Hindi film.
Best adapted screenplay honour went to Vishal Bhardwaj for real-life inspired crime drama "Talvar", while the best original screenplay and dialouge was shared between Juhi Chaturvedi ('Piku') and Himanshu Sharma ('Tanu Weds Manu Returns').
"Masaan", Neeraj Ghaywan's soulful Varanasi-set drama, won him the best debut director honour.
Actress Kalki Koechlin's stint as a girl affected with cerebral palsy in Shonali Bose's "Margarita with a Straw" got a special jury mention. She was accompanied by her mother.
"It is very special that I have received the National award for a film like 'Margarita With a Straw'. It is very encouraging," she said.
"Bajirao Mastani" earned Tanvi Azmi the best supporting actress honour for her portrayal of a shrewd mother in the film. The actress was cheered on by sister-in-law Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar.
Remo D'Souza got his first National Award for choreographing two chart topping numbers "Pinga" and "Deewani Mastani".
"It is the most prestigious award for an artiste. After this award you get respect. It is always better to win such an award," Remo said.
The period drama also won majorly in technical categories like cinematography, production design, re-recordist and sound design, thereby becoming the biggest gainer at the ceremony with six trophies.
Tamil star Samuthirakani bagged the best supporting actor award for his role in thriller, "Visaranai", based on M Chandrakumar's novel "Lock Up". The movie also won the best Tamil film and best editing awards.
Mahesh Kale took home the best playback singer (male) award for crooning in Marathi film "Katyar Kaljat Ghusali". Kale gave a rendition of the song at the ceremony followed by Monali Thakur, who won the best female singer for "moh moh ke dhaage" from "Dum Laga Ke Haisha".
The song also won Varun Grover the best lyricist award.
"Baahubali", which won best feature film honour, also scored the best special effects award for CGI-laden screenplay.
"Nanak Shah Fakir", based on the life and teachings of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev, won the Nargis Dutt Award for best feature film on national integration, besides best costume design and make-up.
