All the artists, in whichever field they are working, always crave for awards. But in entertainment field you see many awards functions happening, specially for Bollywood films. Every year you will see many award ceremonies during the 1st quarter of year for the past year’s performance. Most of these awards are rigged and slowly there are loosing charm. Recently noted journalist Shekhar Gupta , who was associated with Indian Express group and was the looking after Star Screen awards, openly said in an interview how Bollywood various groups used to pressurise him for award, blackmailing him unless such and such person gets such and such award, their group will boycott the awards and will not give any performance. In film fraternity the awards which are still highly respected are the “National Film Awards”. Sometimes there is controversy here also, when certain section from fraternity starts blaming the Jury of the awards for the bias. As these awards for the Indian films, which include Bollywood and films produced in all other regional languages. So the completion generally is very tough, and winning National award has become the criteria for artist’s creativity.
So today I am giving the details of Bollywood artists who have won National award over the years.
National Award for Best Actor : This award was started from the year 1967
- Ashok Kumar- for film Rakhee. Although film was released in 1969, but as it received censor certificate in 1968. Ashok Kumar really acted so well in this film, and may be it was one of the few films of that time where Romantic Hero was not the leading man.
- Utpal Dutt for Bhuvan Shome. In the film Utpal Dutt played the role of elderly Railway officer who is posted at the station of a small village. The film is about the relationship between him and a young girl of the village, which was not having any romantic angle.
- Sanjeev Kumar for Dastak. Sanjeev Kumar & Rehana Sultana played the newly married couple, who occupy a house which was earlier occupied by a woman of ill repute. How their life gets affected when people start knocking at door (dastak) for that woman. Wonderful acting by both the lead star, and both got national award for their performances.
- Sanjeev Kumar for Koshish. What a performance by Sanjeev Kumar, who acted in a role of deaf and dumb guy, who gets married to a deaf and dumb girl.The film is about how their life progresses. His performance in this film can be rated among one of the best performances by a Bollywood actor.
- Sadhu Meher for Ankur. He enacted the role of low intelligence person who is husband of Shabana Azmi, and how she is exploited by Zamindar’s son. His expression were so good without speaking any dialogue.
- Mithun Chakraborty for Mrigayaa. Although the film was in Hindi language, but most of behind the scene artist/technician belonged to Bengal film industry.
- Naseeruddin Shah for Sparsh. The film was commercially released much later in 1984, but was censored in 1979. He played the role of blind person, who runs an institute for Blind.
- Om Puri for Arohan. I do not know much about this film, other than that it was new age film, and I do not remember about its commercial release. He must have performed well to win this award.
- Om Puri for Ardh Satya. He played the character of straight non corrupt police officer who becomes frustrated in the police force because of prevailing corruption and influence of underworld & politicians. In the end he kills and underworld don and surrenders.
- Naseeruddin Shah for Paar. For this film also, I do not have much information.
- Shashi Kapoor for New Delhi Times. He plays an editor of a newspaper, whose work gets affected by political system. The film was not a commercial success.
- Amitabh Bachchan for Agneepath. What a path breaking performance by Amitabh. This film has become iconic film for his acting. Among one of the best performances by a Bollywood actor.
- Nana Patekar for Krantiveer. The performance by him was worth watching and for this film he won all the major award during the year.
- Ajay Devgn for Zakhm. He played the role of illegitimate child of a famous film director, who also becomes a famous director. The film is about how he faces humiliation, longs for father’s love. Superlative performance.
- Anil Kapoor for Pukar. Story of a army officer, who is wrongly implicated for treason and court marshalled. Good performance worthy of an award.
- Ajay Devgn for The Legend of Bhagat Singh. He played the role of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and excelled himself in the role.
- Saif Ali Khan for Hum Tum . He played the role of care free guy, whose cartoon character becomes very famous. How he transforms from his care free nature to responsible guy is treat to watch.
- Amitabh Bachchan for Black. Considered to be one of his best performance, in a role of tutor who teaches deaf, dumb and blind girl how to live.
- Amitabh Bachchan for Paa. He plays the role of teenage boy who is suffering from the disease where his body is ageing very fast. It was treat to watch how 67 year old Amitabh transforms into boy’s role with make up.
- Irrfan Khan for Paan Singh Tomar. He plays the role of medal winning athlete who become dacoit because of circumstances.
- Raj Kumar Rao for Shahid. I do not have much information of this film.
- Amitabh Bachchan for Piku. He played the role of elderly Bengali widower, who is looked after his daughter. He is all the time worried about getting motions, as he is perpetually troubled by constipation. A role really meant for him only.
- Akshay Kumar for Rustom. He played the character of Naval office who sees corruption in defence deals, and because of his non corrupt nature on of his friend who is middleman for defence deals is not happy. The friend forces himself into relationship with the wife of naval officer. The friend is shot by the officer. How he is acquitted by the court. Good Acting by Akshay.
- Ayushman Khurana for Andhadhun. He plays the role of pianist who likes to act as blind to get inspiration. He shared the award with Vicky Kaushal for URI, who played the role of an army officer who leads the surgical strike for avenging the martyrs of terrorist attack by Pakistanis in the Uri army camp.
Next week I will write on the actresses, who won National award.
Waiting for your views/comments/feed backs.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
7th Aug 2020.
R. N. Mungale.
Good information.