Amitabh gets National Award for best actor

New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) With son Abhishek and daughter Shweta joining in the loud applause, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan received the National Award for best actor for his role in "Black" from President Pratibha Patil at a glittering function here Friday evening.

Looking debonair in a black bandhgala suit, Amitabh Bachchan walked up to the stage at Vigyan Bhawan to receive the award from the president. The best actress award was received by Sarika for her role in "Parzania". Eminent director Shyam Benegal received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema at the 53rd National Film Awards ceremony.

"Kaalpurush - Memories In The Mist", directed by Budhadeb Dasgupta, won the best feature film award.

"Parzania", based on the 2002 sectarian violence in Gujarat, won the best direction award for Rahul Dholakia.

Bachchan's performance in "Black" was recognised for his "dramatic rendition of a reformed alcoholic who struggles to give a physically handicapped child a new life".

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, speaking at the function, said that President Patil had directed that the prize money of national film awards be increased five times in order to encourage Indian cinema.

"The president has decided the prize money be increased by five times," the minister said.

Pradeep Sarkar won the Indira Gandhi Award for the best first film by a director for his "Parineeta".

"Rang De Basanati", directed by Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, won the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment. The Nargis Dutt Award for the best film on national integration went to the Malayalam movie "Daivanamathil" directed by Jayaraj.

The award for the best film on social issues went to "Iqbal", directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. The best child artist award went to Sai Kumar for his performance in the Telugu film "Bommalata - A Bellyful Of Dreams".

The best male playback singer award went to Naresh Iyer for "Roo Ba Roo" in "Rang De Basanti". The best female playback singer award went to Shreya Ghoshal for "Apne Aansoo Peene Ke Liye" in "Paheli".

The best non-feature film was "Riding Solo To The Top Of The World" (English), directed by Gaurav A. Jani. The best film critic award went to Baradwaj Rangan.

The best first non-feature film award went to "John & Jane" (English), produced and directed by Ashim Ahluwalia. "Black", directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was judged the best feature film.

The award for the best biographical-historical reconstruction went to "Hans Akela-Kumar Ghandharva" (Hindi), directed by Jabbar Patel and produced by Films Division, Mumbai.

"Spirit Of The Graceful Lineage", produced by Bibi Devi Barbarooah and directed by Prerana Barbarooah Sharma, bagged the award for the best anthropological-ethnographic film.

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