Shuddhi bags best film, Tara and Vishruth Naik best actors at state film awards

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka State Film Awards ceremony was held on Sunday after a gap of five years. Awards for the year 2017 were presented by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at the event in Bengaluru’s Ravindra Kalakshetra in the presence of the film fraternity’s noted personalities.

Since 2016, the awards were presented on April 24 - the birth anniversary of legendary Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar. However, the awards were not given after 2017 owing to several reasons. The ceremony could not be held after the pandemic struck.

Singers Manojavam Atreya, Ashwin Sharma, Sangeetha Ravindranath and the troupe’s musical performance entertained the guests and audience. The team presented hit songs of Dr Rajkumar and set the mood for the big event.

A team of young dancers performed to a medley interspersed with hit dialogues of Rajkumar with Lakshmi (who was honoured with Dr Rajkumar Award) and Puneeth Rajkumar hits. Nadageete and lighting of the lamp marked the start of the event at 7.30 pm.

The Principal Secretary, Karnataka Department of Information and Public Relations and Principal Secretary to the CM N Manjunath Prasad (IAS) delivered the welcome address.

Raghavendra Rajkumar recollected some of his most cherished interactions with his late father. “Appaji’s simplicity and patience were the most prominent qualities. He lived the complete life of an artist,” he said.

CM Bommai appreciated Dr Rajkumar’s versatility and involvement in each of his film’s characters. “We must study and know how this was consistently possible. We cannot do justice to his personality with mere words,” he said, lauding Rajkumar’s emotional stability.

“Dr Rajkumar is a legend, we never feel like he is not with us,” he added.

He also recollected his meeting with Rajkumar after his return from Veerappan’s clutches. “We tried for an hour but could not get him to badmouth Veerappan even once,” he exclaimed.

Film city in Mysuru
The Chief Minister said that Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce had requested a subsidy for 150 films, while the government has granted it for 200. “A film city in Mysuru will come up this year,” he assured.

Award for Lakshmi
Dr Rajkumar Award was presented to senior actor Lakshmi. “I am extremely fortunate to have acted with Rajkumar and have his blessings with me,” she said after receiving the award.

Actor and director S Narayan won the Puttanna Kanagal Award. “Though I could not work with Puttanna, I am happy to be receiving an award in his name,” said S Narayan.

Late Film Producer G.N. Lakshmipathy was posthumously awarded the Dr Vishnuvardhan Award which was received by his son Ram Prasad.

Tara Anuradha got the best actress award for her performance in Hebbet Ramakka. This is her third best actress award. She thanked the government and also requested that each year’s award be presented in time.

Vishruth Naik was presented the Best Actor award for his role in ‘Manjari’. ‘Shuddhi’ won the First Best Film and ‘March 22’ was adjudged the Second Best Film for 2017.

Awards were also given to Paddayi (Tulu) and Sophia (Konkani) films as the Third Best Film and Best Regional Language Film, respectively. Eleyaru Navu Geleyaru was given the Best Children’s Film award. Producers and directors received the awards on behalf of their teams.