Awards bring good feelings: Jahnu Barua

New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Awards bring good feelings, says director Jahnu Barua, whose "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara" bagged three awards at the Riverside International Film Festival in California.

Barua's critically acclaimed film, starring Anupam Kher and Urmila Matondkar, won the awards for best film, best actor and audience choice at the festival on Feb 27.

"I don't believe in making films for getting awards. But they are definitely important. Awards give good feelings," Barua told IANS in an interview.

While Barua's film won three awards in California, it perhaps missed a few more because the film could not be screened at several prominent international film festivals, including those in Berlin and Rotterdam.

"Most festivals accept only unreleased films. So we could not entertain invites for the competition category in several international film festivals, as 'Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara' was released ahead of the festivals," Barua said on telephone from Guwahati.

"I did not expect any award when producer Anupam Kher sent the film to the Riverside Festival. In fact, I forgot about it. It came as a great pleasure when Anupam called me up from London to inform me about the success of our film," said the 10-time National Award-winner.

While Kher is busy shooting Dharmesh Darshan's "Aap Ki Khatir" near London, Barua is currently in Guwahati working on a documentary on eminent Assamese writer Indira Goswami.

"The documentary will highlight the works of Indira Goswami, ranging from her literary works to her efforts to bring peace to Assam," said Baruah.

Goswami, an expert on the Ramayana and winner of the Jnanpith award, has been playing a key role in the government's parleys with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).

Barua said he had begun post-production on the documentary after having completed its shooting. "It will be ready hopefully by April," he said.

The director's second Hindi venture "Butterfly Chase", starring Yashpal Sharma and Gauri Karnik, too is nearing completion. The drama, set in strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir, is expected to be complete in March.

Click the Movie button below for more info:
Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Mara